Throughout the  school year the HSU SIFE team has participated in many projects to educate our area about business topics.  Below is a list of our projects as well as a short description of what the project entailed.

"Mind Your Business"- This year, HSU SIFE undertook its most ambitious project in team history.  The idea was to develop a series of 30-minute television shows to broadcast on Cox Cable Channel 7 in Abilene that would thoroughly cover the four major SIFE project topics. Working with the City of Abilene, the Abilene Independent School District, the HSU Communication Department, and a group of influential business leaders, entrepreneurs, and college professors, the dream became a reality.  The four-part series of shows was completed and aired in the Spring 2005 semester. The shows have been well received by all involved. The series is expected to place highly in next year’s College Advertising Awards Competion.

Western Heritage Day: The SIFE team explained to 4,000 children how entrepreneurs helped settle the west by supplying the tools and goods needed by pioneers. Acting as trading post proprietors, SIFE students showed how the exchange and trade system of the old west still exists today. Instead of gold, we use cash and credit cards and instead of making and selling products locally, we import and export products and goods to markets and “trading posts” all around the world.

Our City @ Safety City: Abilene Police Department's Safety City was transformed by HSU SIFE into “Our City.” Children from several local after-school programs learned about some of the many types of businesses and jobs that make up a city. Children strolled through the city learning the roles that automotive repair businesses, banks, car dealerships, realtors, restaurants, and construction businesses play in a city. In total, 19 businesses and organizations were described to attendees. A front page picture and description of this project appeared in the Abilene Reporter News.

Business Etiquette Dinners: HSU SIFE co-sponsored two business etiquette dinners with the HSU Career Services Office to teach students proper dining etiquette when in professional situations.

Ethics Case: Two classes of new Leadership Studies students participated in our Ethics Case project. Participants, working in teams, were presented with a business case that contained a very clear ethical dilemma. After deriving solutions to the case, participants were brought together to present solutions and to wrestle with the business and ethical complexities of their solutions.

Economics Fair and Marketplace: Third graders from St. John’s Episcopal School learned the ins and outs of business by creating and running their own businesses in a school-wide marketplace. Before the event, HSU SIFE taught the children about products and services, supply and demand, pricing, costs, revenue, promotion, advertising, and accounting. Students put the lessons into practice by creating their own businesses and selling goods and services to other students, parents, teachers, and visitors. A follow up visit by HSU SIFE helped students calculate profits and losses.