Dear Service-Learning Friends,
We are still seeking judges from academia and the private
sector for this event.
Please reply directly to me (cdeberg@csuchico.edu) if you'd like more
information. Or forward this email to colleagues in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Curt DeBerg
Professor, CSU-Chico
_____________________________
PRESS RELEASE July 16, 2012
San Francisco to Host Youth Global Entrepreneurship
Competition
Chico, California—Over 200 teenagers from 17 countries
are coming to San Francisco to compete in the tenth annual Students for the
Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (“SAGE”) World Cup tournament on July
27-31. The Embassy Suites-San Francisco Airport will host the delegations from
each country.
There are two categories of competition. The first
category is the Best Socially-Responsible Business and the second category is
the Best Social Enterprise. The top three teams in each category win prize
money, a trophy and bragging rights as the world’s best youth enterprise teams.
SAGE, based in California, is modeled after
interscholastic sporting events. “But instead of competing on speed, strength
or endurance, we provide teens with a chance to compete based on the creativity
and impact of their socially-responsible businesses,” said California State
University- Chico business professor Curt DeBerg, who is also SAGE’s executive
director.
Pete Eimer, an assistant professor at D’Youville College
in Buffalo, New York, serves as SAGE USA coordinator. “We are thrilled to
showcase San Francisco on a world stage,” said Eimer. “Not only will the teens
get a chance to see that San Francisco is a great international city, but each
delegation will be accompanied by several business leaders who serve as judges
and panelists.”
According to Eimer, the program is growing. Three years
ago, nine countries participated in the SAGE World Cup in Brazil, with the
winning team coming from Abuja, Nigeria. In 2010, 13 countries vied for top
honors in Cape Town, with a high school from Singapore claiming first place.
Last year, in Buffalo, NY, 16 countries participated, with the winning team
once again came from Abuja, Nigeria.
SAGE was founded by DeBerg in 2002. DeBerg said that this
program offers all businesses a direct way to connect with teenage youth.
At the competition, each team is given 30 minutes to
explain details of their entrepreneurial venture to a panel of community
leaders. After reading the annual report in the first 10 minutes, the team
makes a 13-minute oral presentation, followed by 7 minutes which are set aside
for judges to ask questions of the presenters.
Examples of SAGE’s global impact include projects ranging
from conservation of magnolia trees in China and the introduction of new
construction materials made from palm fronds in the Philippines.
In addition to the US, countries to be represented
include Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Ireland, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Ukraine, South
Africa, South Korea, Uganda , and Zambia. Other countries are planning to send
delegations to observe, including Jamaica, Japan and Iran.
DeBerg said that there are opportunities for local
businesses and civic leaders to participate. Executives and managers can serve
as competition judges, and if they want recognition for their organizations,
they are invited to sponsor competition leagues or the awards banquet set for
July 30. One of the keynote speakers on July 29 will be Steve Mariotti, founder
of the internationally acclaimed Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE).
For more information about serving as a judge or
sponsorship, call 716-880-7311 or send an email to cdeberg@csuchico.edu. Additional information about SAGE can be
found at http://sageglobal.org.
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