JAIMIE FRANKLIN
Assistant News Editor
The Pepperdine student organization Students in Free Enterprise welcomed more than 40 underprivileged middle school students to campus Wednesday to educate them on the importance of a college education.
As a multi-national organization located on more than 1,200 campuses worldwide, SIFE designs “educational community outreach projects to help individuals and organizations to develop a better understanding of the principles of free enterprise,” according to their brochure. Projects focus on five key concepts, including market economics, success skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and business ethics.
The event was coordinated in conjunction with Project Grad Los Angeles and Junior Achievement, organizations that work with low-income and underprivileged youth.
“Project Grad creates a college-bound culture in the northeast San Fernando Valley,” said Gabriella Neuman, regional program manger of Junior Achievement and a 2005 Pepperdine alumna. “Many of these students come from low-income families who don’t have older brothers and sisters or parents that have gone to college or graduated high school. They will be the first generation of college students.”
Events began with presentations by Dr. Mike Mullen and Business Division Chair Dr. Keith Whitney on what motivated them to seek college degrees, followed by a campus tour, lunch and a game meant to teach the children about ethics.
“I think they can relate to my life story and the credibility of my experience,” Mullen said. “I don’t want to talk down to them or over their heads. I get them involved.”
SIFE members said that they believe the first step is proving to youth that college is attainable.
“Many of these kids think that college is a very nebulous place to get to,” said SIFE President Gabe Johnson. “But it’s possible. Opportunities are there.”
Project Grad Campus Manager Sandra Rodarte works closely with the students from Community Charter Middle School, developing close relationships with students and their parents.
“I want to see students be successful and lead productive lives and careers,” Rodarte said. “I see a lot of myself in them. It would have been nice to have programs like this when I was their age.”
Rodarte said students attending the trip were privileged to be there.
“Coming here gives me more opportunities to think about what college I can find to go to in the future,” said Chloe Necoechea, a seventh grader.
Eighth-grade student Louis Hermosillo said he is interested in applying to Pepperdine when the time comes. He wants to major in physics.
“We were amazed at how much stuff there is here,” Hermosillo said. “It’s a very, very beautiful campus.”
Pepperdine students and SIFE members also benefited from the event. At the end of each year, SIFE chapters compete for a cash prize at the regional, national, and global level to determine which teams have done the best job at educating their communities.
“It’s a great opportunity because members are benefiting themselves and serving the community at the same time,” Johnson said.
Junior and SIFE member Linnco Ho said their mission is to “serve, lead and connect” with the community. “By doing these projects we learn to make better progress,” she said.
But fundamental to this event is the impact it may have on the lives of young students.
“A college education depends on the motivation and dedication students bring to it,” Mullen said. “We all hold on to something that drives us and motivates us. These kids need to have that dream too.”
02-01-2007
