SIFE Simon Fraser lands ACE Western Canada regional awards

Students from Simon Fraser University recently showed the Vancouver community what they “dared to do” to create social, environmental and economic impact throughout the Lower Mainland – and picked up some awards along the way.

Members of the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter from SFU, along with 16 other universities from as far as Manitoba, attended the 2012 ACE Western Regional Exposition at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The two-day event focused on the impact created when business concepts are applied to social missions.

Bringing together social entrepreneurs, community leaders, and business professionals, SIFE teams and members from across Western Canada demonstrated how they are the country’s emerging leaders and change makers. SIFE SFU had entrants in three separate challenges: the Scotiabank & SIFE Go Green Challenge; the TD SIFE Entrepreneurship Challenge, and the Capital One SIFE Financial Education Challenge.

SIFE Simon Fraser claimed the title of Regional Champion for the Capital One SIFE Financial Education Challenge, as well as Regional runner-up for the TD SIFE Entrepreneurship Challenge.

The judges were impressed with the level of the professionalism of SIFE Simon Fraser’s presentations and the creativity behind their projects. Presenting for the Financial Education Challenge, Communications undergrad Lynn Shinto and Beedie School of Business undergrad Kimberly Nguyen-Don highlighted how the Hunger Actions program improved the standard of living for 52 low-income women by teaching them how to get the most nutritional value out of every dollar spent on food.

In the Entrepreneurship Challenge, Beedie School of Business undergrad students Madhav Goyal and Judy Liang demonstrated how SIFE Simon Fraser helps foster entrepreneurs from high school to university through the Bright Ideas and Student Entrepreneur of the Year (SEY) programs. This year, the team empowered 28 high school students to create social initiatives that impacted 650 individuals; and provided over $20,000 in resources to 11 SFU entrepreneurs.

Banner Bags, a nationally recognized environmental sustainability initiative, was also presented by Criminology and Psychology undergrad Dominic Liu and Beedie School of Business undergrad Safia Suleman for the Scotiabank & SIFE Go Green Challenge. To date, Banner Bags has avoided over 35,000 pounds of C02 emissions, and saved 1400 pounds of nylon from landfills.

In addition, Beedie School of Business undergrad Matias Marquez, co-founder of Buyatab Inc. and the SEY 2011 winner secured the ACE Student Entrepreneur Western Regional Champion. Also from SFU, Sonam Swarup, a third-year Communications student and Director of Community Development for SIFE Simon Fraser, was named the 2012 HSBC Woman Leader of Tomorrow for Western Canada. Both will move on to the ACE National Competition to compete for the National titles.

“Every year, our students amaze us with their dedication and determination to build a better Canada through the positive power of business”, explains ACE President Amy Harder. “Thanks to their ongoing commitment, we know the future of this country is in good hands.”

SIFE Simon Fraser will now advance to the Capital One SIFE Financial Education Challenge Final Round of Competition where Shinto and Nguyen-Don will be competing against the Regional winners from Central and Atlantic Canada. The 2012 ACE National Exposition in Calgary will take place from May 7th-9th where SIFE Simon Fraser will also compete in the overall SIFE National Competition against teams from across Canada.