3.30.12
SIFE Team Using Twitter to Compete in TIAA-CREF Financial Empowerment Contest

By Southeastern University

Southeastern University's Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team is engaging the Twitterverse in its latest project designed to improve the quality of life of people through business practices.

The SIFE team is one of 25 across the country that was awarded a $1,500 grant through the TIAA-CREF Financially Empowering Gen Y program. Their project, called "30 Tweets in 30 Days," is designed to engage young adults through Twitter with tweets and links to TIAA-CREF resources on topics such as spending, saving, borrowing and investing.

Beth Leslie, assistant professor of business and one of SIFE's faculty advisors, said the project is especially relevant for college students.

"If we can graduate students who understand how to manage their money during their first job, they'll be so much better off 10 or 15 years down the road," she said.

To increase their number of followers on Twitter and expand their audience for financial literacy resources, SIFE team members have been giving away prizes to random followers of their Twitter account. The prizes include gift cards to Wal-Mart and Starbucks, and there will be a grand prize at the end of the program of an iPad2, given away at the closing Lunch and Learn luncheon on April 13.

The SIFE team will also participate in TIAA-CREF's SIFE Campus Challenge, where students are asked to take quizzes to determine their financial personality. The school that has the most students take the quiz will receive a donation to a charity of its choice.

Since launching the "30 Tweets in 30 Days" program in mid-March, the @seu_SIFE account has grown from a few dozen followers to more than 160.

"I think we're all pretty pleased with the outcome so far," said Corey Irace, one of the student leaders on the project.

The top SIFE teams from around the country competing in the project will be recognized at the SIFE National Competition in Kansas City from May 22-24. First place wins $5,000, second place $4,000, third place $3,000, and six National Finalists will win $1,000 each.

The TIAA-CREF project is just one of many that the SEU SIFE has undertaken in 2012. They recently traveled to Lake Wales to build a corral at Lake Aurora Christian Camp, hosted a Women in the Workplace seminar, and held a rally at McLaughlin Middle School where they encouraged students to study hard and stay in school.

To follow the SIFE team on Twitter, search for their profile @SEU_SIFE or click here.