by KIM HILSENBECK
Applying business concepts in a real world setting; that may be one way to describe Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE). The organization, an international nonprofit that works with leaders in business and higher education, mobilizes university students to make a difference in their communities while developing socially responsible leadership skills.
At Texas State University, about 70 students are involved in SIFE, now called Enactus. They form teams and develop outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need.
According to Justin Portillo, a member of SIFE at Texas State, one of the group’s current projects involves producing food. Portillo described “Project Growth” which uses aquaponics, a sustainable food production system combining traditional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as snails or fish in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water).
The group at Texas State uses fish in their tanks – about six to eight in each. For each tank sold, Portillo said, SIFE will build a second tank that is donated.
“Students can sell a system to their families, churches or neighbors,” Portillo said. “They cost about $150. SIFE will then donate a second aquaponics system to a rural community in Central Texas.”
The team in charge of Project Growth manages the program just like a business, making decisions about materials, costs, labor, distribution and promotion. Portillo said his team already had 10 orders, but that means they needed to build 20 units.
Texas State SIFE students spent about nine hours on a recent Saturday in December in Kyle building the first round of aquaponics systems. Portillo said some of those were delivered to elementary schools in South Texas.
“The students (at those schools) will grow plants and vegetables using nutrient-rich water from fish in the same habitat. Ultimately, the students will witness the power of sustainability, and harvest the plants and fish,” Portillo said.
He said the organization hopes to provide such systems for local schools.
The idea helped Texas State SIFE maintain its record as one of the most distinguished and decorated chapters in the organization.
“We are two-time national champions and have won the regional competition for 16 consecutive years,” Portillo said.
