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CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State University's Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team was recently named a regional champion at the SIFE USA Regional Competition, held in San Francisco.

The event was one of 12 regional competitions being held across the United States in March and April. A total of 375 teams competed.

In addition to winning a trophy, the OSU team also received a cash prize of $1,000.

Six OSU students highlighted the group's outreach projects to a panel of 20 judges. Members of the presentation team included: Stephen Hodges (Portland), international and entrepreneurship major; Willen Sin (Portland), marketing major; Lauren Hines (Grants Pass), business major; Kimberly Pendergrass (Tigard), art history and business major; MacAdam Lea (Lakeview), business and education major; and Drew Anderson (Gresham), an accounting major.

OSU sponsors one of more than 500 Students in Free Enterprise programs in the U.S. Participating students use business concepts to develop community outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need.

During this academic year, the 39 members of the OSU team organized 18 projects in Corvallis, as well as throughout Oregon, and across the nation. Students dedicated more than 10,000 community service hours to volunteer projects.

Through a partnership with OSU Federal Credit Union and the SMILE Program, SIFE students also taught classes to middle school students on business ethics, corporate social responsibility and financial planning.

"I am honored to represent Oregon State University at the national competition and I am definitely looking forward to competing at this level," said Portland's Sin, a sophomore and a member of the presentation team.

The OSU students will compete at the 2010 SIFE USA National Exposition in Minneapolis, Minn., scheduled for May 11-13. One of these teams will be chosen as the SIFE USA National Champion team and will represent the United States at the SIFE World Cup.

Students in Free Enterprise is an international nonprofit organization that brings together the top leaders of today and tomorrow to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business.