Current Projects

Project Ethanol

Working with farming and ethanol firms and interest groups, SIFE is working toward the passage of county ordinances to allow the building of an ethanol plant in Champaign. This project and campaign has included contacting local government representatives, studying the costs and the benefits of an ethanol plant, educating farmers and the public about the benefits of ethanol, projections of micro and macro economic benefits, and impact on oil dependence.
Progress: 8/10
Projected Completion: October 2007

Capital Markets Education

In 2007, one member of UIUC SIFE was chosen to attend a conference sponsored by Goldman Sachs, where they taught SIFE members how to go into high schools and teach the students about capital markets.  After this tremendous opportunity, the UIUC SIFE team went out to one local high school class of 30 students, and taught them about capital markets, greatly increasing their knowledge of this important subject.  This project went very well, and UIUC SIFE will be greatly increasing the number of classes they visit during the 2007-2008 school year.

Progress: 10/10
Projected Completion: Will be repeated in 2007-2008 on a larger scale

Recycle Toners For SIFE

UIUC SIFE partnered with the College of Business and began collecting printer toners and cartridges in 2007.  The purpose of this project is to keep these recyclable materials out of our landfills, and generate money for SIFE and other local non-profit organizations.  In 2007-2008, UIUC SIFE plans to expand this program across the UIUC campus.

Progress: 7/10
Projected Completion: Ongoing Project

Illini Career Advising

UIUC SIFE members visit various local high schools and hold informative sessions highlighting topics such as writing a resume or cover letter, finding an internship, or various other topics that interest these high school students.  The classes that have been visited for Illini Career Advising have all invited SIFE back, proving the success of this project.

Progress: 7/10
Projected Completion: Ongoing Project

Venture Capital Competition

Partnering with the University’s Center for Entrepreneurship, SIFE will assist the center in organizing and running a venture capital competition. Participants of the competition will present their ideas to panel of judges, composed of members of a venture capital firm, who will pick projects to fund.  

Progress: 3/10
Projected Completion: Will be repeated during the 2007-2008 school year