SIFE Memorial named world champions

By Meaghan Whelan | Oct. 3, 2008

A Newfoundland and Labrador team has once again won gold at an international event.

Memorial University students have been named best in the world, winning the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) World Cup and becoming gold medal champions.

SIFE (formerly ACE) Memorial has used the positive power of business to inspire students, empower seniors, change lives and transform communities. The incredible impact they’ve had on their community has earned them the Students in Free Enterprise World Cup – an accolade that the best and brightest students from more than 40 countries were vying for.

After winning regional and national competitions, the SIFE Memorial team returned to the SIFE World Cup for the third year in a row, ready to show the world the positive impact they’ve had on their community.

In three rounds of competition over two days, the SIFE Memorial team wowed international business leaders who were judging the competition with the depth and impact scope of their projects.         

In the final round, SIFE Memorial competed against Nigeria, India and the hometown Singapore team. 

Dr. Gary Gorman, dean of the Faculty of Business, is in Singapore with the team.

“I am so proud of these students. They gave the best presentation of the competition in the final round. It was not only a flawless presentation, but they answered every question with confidence and poise,” he said. “They were incredible ambassadors for the faculty, Memorial, Newfoundland and Canada.”

The team highlighted six of their most successful projects, Launch Pad, Leading Ethically, Transatlantic Consultants, Flags, Think Green and Moulder of Dreams. Through these projects and 10 others, SIFE Memorial has reinvested more than $1.4 million dollars in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“By any measure, the students involved with SIFE Memorial have been doing tremendous work,” said faculty advisory Lynn Morrissey.

“I am so proud of their accomplishments in the community and to be recognized as the best in the world is an outstanding moment for all of us on the team. Beyond that, I know how proud the students and I are to be representing Canada and we’re so excited bring the World Cup home.”

Back home at Memorial, the entire university community is filled with pride in SIFE Memorial.

“This is the Olympic gold of university competition and we are  proud of our SIFE Memorial team,” said Dr. Eddy Campbell, acting president and vice-chancellor of Memorial.

“Winning the World Cup is a singular accomplishment, and it really does put Memorial University on the map. Our students have demonstrated poise, professionalism, enthusiasm and great skill in an international competition where thousands of students vie to compete. They have done a fabulous job representing Canada, Memorial University and Newfoundland and Labrador.”

The provincial government also extended its congratulations to the SIFE team.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment for SIFE Memorial and I extend my sincere congratulations to the students and faculty,” said the Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.  “Their hard work, entrepreneurial spirit, enthusiasm and ingenuity have led them to earning international success. Once again, our young people have proven they can compete and win on the international stage, and I could not be more pleased.  Our future looks bright indeed with these individuals as our future leaders, and I commend them for their outstanding achievement.  They are true ambassadors for Newfoundland and Labrador.”

The Departments of Business, and Innovation, Trade and Rural Development collectively provided $20,000 to SIFE Memorial to help pay for its participation in the 2008 SIFE World Cup.

“For these young, talented Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to take top place among the world’s best business students is indeed a great achievement and we are very proud of them,” said the Honourable Paul Oram, Minister of Business.  “They represented and promoted Memorial, our province and our country in world-class fashion and their hard work and determination were rewarded. We are pleased to have supported the team in competing in Singapore.”

The SIFE World Cup competition and awards ceremony can be viewed online.


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