Findlay, Ohio, May 25, 2004 --The University of Findlay’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team finished as second runner-up in League 1 among four-year institutions at the national SIFE competition in Kansas City, Mo., on Monday, May 24.

They competed against teams from the University of West Alabama, Arkansas State University, Northeastern State University, Simpson College, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Alabama Agriculture and Mechanical University, and Mount Vernon Nazarene University. The UF SIFE team advanced to the national competition after capturing the regional title in Chicago, Ill., on April 1.

UF SIFE team presenters in Kansas City were Rondi Niederkohr of Upper Sandusky, Ohio; Lindsey Karshner of Ashville, Ohio; Andy Kuhn of Bucyrus, Ohio; Bonnie Salinas of El Paso, Texas; and Johonna Snyder of Upper Sandusky, Ohio.

Other members of the team who participated in Kansas City were Matt Berberick of Republic, Ohio; Angie Sinclair of Loveland, Ohio; Ami Smith of McComb, Ohio; and Karen Ziegman of Findlay.

Greg Arburn, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics and finance and SIFE adviser, and Doug Switzer, assistant professor of communication and member of the Business Advisory Board, accompanied the students.

A few of the projects the team developed for the SIFE competition were: teaching third-graders at Washington Elementary School about the free market in a global economy by having students set up competing lemonade stands; conducting resume and mock interview sessions for homeless men and women at the Findlay City Mission and 30 teenagers involved with Juvenile Diversion of Hancock County; and teaching college students proper dining etiquette skills for the business environment.

SIFE is a non-profit organization active on more than 1,600 college and university campuses in 40 countries. SIFE teams teach free enterprise principles through educational outreach projects.