How a University Can Start a High School SAGE Program in Your State or Country A Guide to Help You Create Better Futures through Mentorship, Entrepreneurship, and Community Service 2004/2005

An Invitation Do you want to work with younger students in your region to help them develop their entrepreneurship, business, global economic, leadership and teamwork skills? Do you want your protégés to become champions? Do you truly want to change the world?

The Overall Idea The CSU, Chico “Students in Free Enterprise” (SIFE) team would be honored to work with your university in the 2004/2005 academic year (see We want to share our best project with you…It’s called “Global SAGE.” –We would like to help you start a High School SAGE program in your state or country!

Why Is It Called “SAGE?” The acronym stands for Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship. –SAGE is a project conceived by the CSU, Chico SIFE team. –SAGE is an international NETWORK that links secondary school student organizations to university student mentors to advance global entrepreneurship in an ethical and socially- responsible manner.

How Does SAGE Relate to SIFE? SIFE stands for Students in Free Enterprise, and is currently active on 1,300 universities and community colleges across the globe. –The mission of each collegiate SIFE team is to make a difference in their communities by learning, practicing and teaching the principles of economics and free enterprise. SAGE is an outstanding program for SIFE teams to start as their own SIFE project

A Successful Model: “California SAGE” In California, we have conducted a “Cal-High SIFE” program for several years. –In order to expand this program to other regions, we have created the SAGE network, of which California SAGE is now a part. –In , a total of 16 high schools competed. –Next year we expect over 30 California high schools to compete. –We are now in a position to share our success with you!

How Do You Get Started? All your SIFE team has to do is identify at least one high school in your area and –become their coach and mentor as the younger students complete at least one entrepreneurship project, one community outreach project, and one teaching project (see details in the SAGE Training Manual on our website, or us and we will send you one:

To recruit a high school, we suggest any or all of the following: Your adviser can contact the local high school districts and ask if there are any “entrepreneurial” or “service-learning” classes who would like college mentors throughout the year; Offer to make a presentation at an upcoming school board and/or PTA meeting.

To recruit a high school, we suggest any or all of the following: Make a presentation to a school assembly or an existing student group (e.g., DECA, FBLA, FFA, Virtual Enterprise, Skills USA, Jr. Achievement, business academies, etc.). –Bring a few copies of the SAGE Training Manual (make sure to revise the handbook to accommodate your needs).

Why Would A High School Want To Be Involved? Near the end of each academic year (preferably February, March, or April), the high schools from each region will come together for the regional high school competition hosted by the participating college SIFE host. –The high school that is judged to be that region’s “champion” earns recognition, prize money and an invitation to travel to the SAGE World Cup!!

HOSTING A SAGE COMPETITON The first college SIFE team in your region to volunteer to be a “host” campus for at least three competing high school SAGE teams will be designated “Region-High SIFE/SAGE” host. –Other SIFE teams from a region are also encouraged to participate by mentoring a high school in their area, and bringing them to the High SAGE competition sponsored by the host campus.

Hosting A SAGE Competition There is no fee to establish a SAGE program in a region. There is no required model for setting up a SAGE program in a region, and each program makes the decisions in each region. –The only requirement is that each High School SAGE team follows the eight judging criteria, detailed on the last page.

Hosting A SAGE Competition The winner of the regional competition is eligible to compete in SAGE World Cup (we expect the 2005 SAGE World Cup to take place in the middle of August in San Francisco, CA. The year after that, 2006, we hope to have the World Cup in the Philippines, Poland, or Mexico). The Chico State SIFE office must certify the regional competition. It is the responsibility of each SAGE host to organize and fund a regional competition. –This includes arranging travel to the competitions, and providing prize money and awards for the competing high school teams. *It should be noted that no SIFE advisers or SIFE teams receive mentoring stipends for mentoring high school teams.

2004 SAGE World Cup The 2004 SAGE World Cup is in San Francisco on May 20-22, 2004 Nine countries have identified a SAGE National Champion; two more will start SAGE teams next year Want details? Go to:

How To Fund A SAGE Competition Chico State SIFE has had great success through partnerships with major companies who support our mission. –Last year, for example, one private foundation provided our team with a $66,000 grant for this program. Other companies who have provided financial support include Walgreens, Pepsi Bottling, Petco, Office Depot, E&J Gallo and Chevron/Texaco.

How To Fund A SAGE Competition Involve your local business leaders in identifying high school teams, and potential projects. –Then, invite them to judge the high school presentations. –The more you involve them, the more they feel like they are part of the SAGE family.

How To Fund A SAGE Competition Upon request, Chico State SIFE will provide examples of sample grant proposals, concept letters and contact names of companies who may sponsor this program in your area. Another great way to attract sponsorships is to make presentations to local business and civic groups. –In the US, such groups include the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Kiwanis, and Suroptimist Club.

How To Fund A SAGE Competition Don’t be discouraged if funding is hard to come by in the first year. –If you do a great job the first year and you publicize the results in the media, funding will become easier over time. –The key is to embrace SIFE’s leadership philosophy: “People support what they help create.” Toward this end, Chico State SIFE can provide you with sample press releases and public service announcements that have aired on local TV and radio.

Why Is This Project So Important? We believe that the human and physical resources available at most colleges and universities are underutilized in terms of helping high school students achieve financial literacy, entrepreneurship skills, and knowledge of international trade. –This is why we encourage all universities (especially those with SIFE teams) across the world to find at least one high school to mentor.

Why Is This Project So Important? Financial concepts and entrepreneurship are not taught well in the high schools. –According to the Jumpstart Coalition for Personal Literacy, 50% of U.S. high school seniors don’t make the grade in their knowledge of managing money, investing and savings. –Also, a recent Gallup survey found that, even though 70% of high school students want to start their own business, more than half acknowledged that their understanding of business issues is poor.

Why Is This Project So Important? A recent poll of 800 students conducted at the International Business Student Exposition and Career Opportunity Fair, showed that an understanding of the global workplace/culture was the area in which students thought they were least prepared for in the working world. As today's youth become the leaders of tomorrow, it is vital for them to learn how trade affects many aspects of their lives. But the subject of international trade is not generally included in the high school curriculum; the subject is largely absent from our schools.

What Should Your Adopted High Schools Call SAGE Project? If one of the high schools in Abilene, Texas is participating, the high school group could call the student the “Abilene High School SAGE Team” –If the high school is using an existing student group like FBLA, DECA, FFA participates, it can call the project “Abilene High FBLA/SAGE.”

Other Tidbits Any SIFE team in the US or another country can link their team(s) with the CSU, Chico SIFE team. – Since 1994, CSU, Chico has adopted 36 rookie SIFE teams, and have worked closely with several sister SIFE teams. We believe in the concept of “co-opetition,” meaning that we will cooperate with any SIFE team that wants to help us spread the fire of economic freedom. –Only when at competitions where we must compete with a sister SIFE team in the same league, do we enter the “compete” mode.

Other Tidbits To formalize SAGE as an organization in a region, there must be at least three participating High School SAGE teams in that state or country. We assist people from all regions in establishing a regional High School SAGE organization and can provide training support, but no direct financial support. –CSU, Chico SIFE can help with fundraising ideas in a region. –CSU, Chico SIFE provides training for a host campus.

Other Tidbits As far as rules, one just needs to follow the format that CSU, Chico SIFE uses in the SAGE Training Manual –Ultimately, if your college campus wants to become the host site for the High SAGE competition, you must first be certified by Chico State SIFE in order to avoid duplication of effort.

Making A Difference The mission of each SIFE team is to make a difference in their communities …SAGE will make a difference! SAGE is a project conceived by the CSU, Chico SIFE team. –The acronym stands for Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship, an international group that links secondary school student organizations to university student mentors to advance global entrepreneurship in an ethical and socially- responsible manner. Please join us!

For More Information Contact our Sam M. Walton Fellow: Dr. Curt DeBerg California State University, Chico College of Business Chico, CA