Students In Free Enterprise

Sife Logo

Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) brings together a diverse network of college students, academic professionals and industry leaders from around the world to focus on a shared mission of creating a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of free enterprise. Each team member contributes their time and talent to projects that improve the lives of people around the globe. Each participant demonstrates that individuals who are armed with information, a passion for people and business know-how, can be real agents for change.

This is a powerful life lesson that is attained outside of the classroom, because SIFE is tackling projects that are tied to real targets with help of real professionals. The outcome of each project could change the lives of SIFE students and the project's beneficiaries in a real and substantial way.

SIFE has been at City University of Seattle since 2004. It started when a group of Master of Business Administration students wanted to help out their community and world in a real way. When the students approached the faculty about bringing SIFE on campus, the CityU administration and faculty were thrilled and immediately were on board - as this organization directly supported CityU's mission of providing a relevant and lifelong education for our students.

CityU's SIFE team has been growing each year and has been very successful at establishing good relationships with businesses such as Walmart, Starbucks, Microsoft and BestBuy.

How SIFE Works

SIFE offers passionate students the opportunity to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills through learning, practicing and teaching the principles of free enterprise, thereby improving the standard of living for millions in the process. Guided by distinguished faculty advisors, called the "Sam Walton Fellow", CityU's fellow is Kathy Cox. Each team is supported by businesses from around the globe. SIFE teaches important concepts through educational outreach projects, including market economics, entrepreneurship, personal and financial success, and business ethics to better themselves, their communities and their countries.

Last year, with 19 members, SIFE has done many community projects impacting at least 360 individuals and have provided 6,000 meals. The team spent 3,795 total hours working on 19 projects which resulted in 13 partnerships with corporations, business leaders, and local businesses. The projects being presented at the competition were:

  • Campbell's Let's Can Hunger
  • Nutrition Program
  • Financial Literacy Program
  • Sustainability Program
  • Small Business Assistance
  • Women's Empowerment
Each year, SIFE hosts a competition where each team presents their projects. These competitions are held around the world and bring together thousands of students and business leaders. They each pay tribute to the extraordinary educational outreach projects and are evaluated on how innovative, creative and effective they were in teaching these concepts:
  • How the free market works in the global economy
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Personal financial success skills
  • Business ethics

Become a Member*

Interested in joining CityU's SIFE team? Enroll in SIFE today and you'll receive free membership benefits, which include:
  • Undergraduate, graduate or practicum credit
  • Eligablility for a $15,000 scholarship (for SIFE leadership chairs only)
  • Opportunities to increase business experience and deepen professional networks with students, faculty and business leaders from around the world
  • A personalized letter of recommendation from CityU President Lee Gorsuch and career counsel from SIFE Team Director Kathy Cox upon graduation
Go to SIFE.org to register and click on the 'Get Involved' tab where you may create a personal account. Once finished, please contact the Team Director, Kathy Cox.

*Eligible members must be a CityU student or alumnus/a. Master of Business Administration students are encouraged to apply, however a business degree background is not required.

SIFE Leadership Team

Officers
President: Trent Lykins, BSBA Administration candidate
Vice President: Winnie Paramita, MBA candidate
Secretary / Treasurer: Carolan Eleazar, MBA candidate

Chairs
Competition Chair: Basil Abashar, MBA candidate
Marketing / Social Media Chair: Praisye Prayanster Sandy, BSBA candidate
Fundraising Chair: Yanbing Lu, MBA candidate
Sustainability Chair: Ryan Weber, MBA candidate
Activity Chair: Yaroslavna Gayfulinna, MBA candidate

Contact

Trent Lykins, SIFE President / BSBA candidate