San Marcos, Texas – (date)– Ms. Kari Dybvig alongside eager students from Mrs. Fernandez’s fourth grade class at DeZavala Elementary School displayed their entrepreneurial abilities and participated in opening their own business.

 The award-winning Students in Free Enterprise Team from Texas State University has committed many hours to developing five start-up businesses in local elementary and intermediate schools.  

The SIFE team undertakes projects, which fulfill their mission of teaching others, through hands-on activities, about the basic concepts of free enterprise.  

The five area elementary schools that are now participating include Crockett, DeZavala, Travis, Tom Green, and Bowie under the excellent leadership of Sharaon Ahrens, San Marcos I.S.D.  The fourth and fifth grade gifted and talented students are learning the entire business cycle and participating in the successful operation of the store.  The students will be issued stock certificates, secure additional funding, elect officers and commence their own weekly operations.  

A key component of the learning experience is the need to be socially responsible and ethical.  So, at the conclusion of the project this winter, each group donated a portion of their proceeds to a worthwhile cause.

SIFE is a global, non-profit organization that is literally changing the world through highly dedicated student teams on more than 1600 university campuses in 40 countries. SIFE offers these students the opportunity to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills through practicing and teaching the principles of free enterprise, thereby improving the standard of living for millions in the process. Texas State SIFE is one of the leading collegiate teams within the United States. Texas State SIFE has placed within the Top 20 at national competitions since 1997 and was the International Champion in 2000.