Students take free enterprise message to correctional facility

The students in Pittsburg State University's Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter have presented their free enterprise message to a wide array of audiences, ranging from grade school students in Pittsburg to young adults on the other side of the globe. On Friday, Feb. 10, they will share the same message for the first time with a group of women who are behind bars.

The PSU SIFE chapter will give presentations on several business topics to women at the Labette Correctional Conservation Camp (LCCC) in Oswego from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10. The topics the group will cover include entrepreneurship, business ethics, creating a business plan, starting a business on e-bay, budgeting and savings, homeowner’s insurance, and life insurance. The information presented is designed to help those interested in starting a business in the future by developing their entrepreneurial abilities. Following the conclusion of the presentation, each individual in attendance will be awarded a certificate of completion.

Shawn Tate, a member of the SIFE group, said the women were chosen for the project because the mission of SIFE is to create economic opportunity.

"PSU SIFE is looking to increase the chances of the inmate population becoming productive members of society instead of a tax burden on society," Tate said. "PSU SIFE hopes that the attendees will walk away with a new confidence to pursue their dreams and a motivation to succeed in life."

Tate said the group plans to give a similar presentation to the men at the facility at a later date.

SIFE is an international non-profit organization active on more than 1,800 university campuses in more than 40 countries. SIFE teams create economic opportunities in their communities by organizing outreach projects that teach: market economics, entrepreneurship, personal financial success skills and business ethics. Their projects are judged at competition on creativity, innovation and effectiveness.

For more information:
PSU SIFE
Shawn Tate at 620-249-9513 or e-mail SIFE at
gorillasife@yahoo.com

SIFE Worldwide Information:
www.sife.org

Labette Correctional Conservation Camp for women
www.labettecamps.com/index.asp
Maj. Tom Bringle, Administrator
Cpt. Terry Edwards, Program Manager
620-795-2025

---Pitt State--