Contact: Bruce Conley, News Information Director
Phone: (605) 274-5526
Fax: (605) 274-4903
e-mail: bruce_conley@augie.edu
www.augie.edu

April 9, 2004

Augustana's SIFE Team Earns Trip to National Competition

SIOUX FALLS - Augustana's Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team won top honors in its league at the regional competition in Minneapolis, Minn. The team earned a $1,500 award and advances to the national championships in Kansas City, May 23-25.

Members of Augie's winning team are Stephanie Hauert, a senior from Plankinton, S.D., majoring in business administration/accounting and psychology; Aaron Clark, a sophomore from Chaska, Minn., majoring in business administration; Dustin Ebbesen, a junior from Hurley, S.D., majoring in business administration/accounting; Stacey Knips, a senior from Luverne, Minn., majoring in business administration; Rachelle Konz, a senior from Sioux Falls majoring in business administration; Jessica Krueger, a senior from Bismarck, N.D., majoring in business administration and sociology; Kelly Palmer, a junior from Fort Collins, Colo., majoring in business administration/accounting; Ingvild Westad, a senior from Molde, Norway, majoring in government and international affairs; Mitch Swanson, a senior from Saint James, Minn., majoring in psychology and business administration; and Nina Slupphaug, a junior from Oslo, Norway, majoring in government and international affairs.

Shelly Gardner, instructor in business administration, is the Augie team's advisor. This is the second year Augustana has fielded a SIFE team.

Founded in 1975, SIFE is a global, non-profit education organization that is literally changing the world through highly dedicated student teams on more than 1,600 college and university campuses in 40 countries. SIFE offers these 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 and supported by businesses around the globe, SIFE teams teach 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.

Each year SIFE competitions are held worldwide, drawing together thousands of students and business leaders to pay tribute to these extraordinary educational outreach projects.

Each year SIFE competitions are held worldwide, drawing together thousands of students and business leaders to pay tribute to these extraordinary educational outreach projects.