Phi Beta Lambda-Students in Free Enterprise has had a lot on the calendar lately. Here’s an update from the organization:
PBL-SIFE clothing drive a success for Care Corps
Midland Lutheran College’s chapter of Phi Beta Lambda-Students in Free Enterprise has collected more than 600 items of professional clothing, which were donated to the Fremont Care Corps.
“On behalf of all the members of PBL-SIFE, I want to thank everyone who offered up some clothing,” said Nick Shreck, vice president of public relations for the organization. “These gifts, literally the shirts off of people’s backs, will help a lot people find a job.”
In just the second year of the Career Clothing Collection, PBL-SIFE helped individuals living at Care Corps find appropriate clothing to wear to interviews and other formal events. Last year, the clothing drive pulled in over 100 articles of clothing, but this year the organization quadrupled the amount they raised the previous year.
There were several drop-off points located around Fremont including: First State Bank, Bank of the West, Sunkist Cleaners, and Maurices. Many employees at the drop sites donated their own clothes to the cause.
Members of the PBL-SIFE team have also gone to Care Corps and helped train residents about how to approach a job interview.
Area students get a taste of business world
Midland Lutheran College’s Phi Beta Lambda-Students In Free Enterprise (PBL-SIFE) chapter recently gave 62 area high school students a glimpse into the world of entrepreneurship.
Students from eight high schools were separated into teams and given the challenge of landing a loan for their small business. Working with unfamiliar teammates added to the already daunting challenge, said Kaitlyn Schreck, an Arlington high school student.
The young businesspeople first had to design their business plan, including a complete estimate of first year expenses. The teams then made their pitch to “loan officers” Jen Roeber and Chris Hull. Roeber is President of Nebraska Phi Beta Lambda and Hull is a graduate of Midland Lutheran College who was involved with PBL-SIFE.
“This part was really tough,” Schreck said, “because we didn’t want to get denied by the loan officer.”
Once approved, students had to select a location for their new business, factoring in variables such as location, size, and market. Next, the young entrepreneurs created a layout for their business, developed a business ethics case and created a television commercial.
Finally, the teams formally presented their businesses to a panel of judges, which was made up of faculty and local business leaders.
Midland’s PBL-SIFE group organized the competition, which drew students from Arlington, Ashland-Greenwood, Lutheran High Northeast, Newman Grove, Papillion-La Vista, Palmer, Platteview, and Stanton high schools.
