L-R: Brad Dowdall, Ryen Reid, Caitlin Gordon, Lauren Hardison, Andrew Chambers, Jess Daniel, Tony Evans
The North Carolina State Chapter of Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) held the Annual State Leadership Conference in Charlotte April 6-8. Officers and members from the Catawba College chapter of PBL attended the conference and competed in many of the statewide business competitions. Approximately 300 students from colleges across North Carolina attended and competed.
Chapter Advisor, Dr. Pamela Thompson, attended with Catawba PBL Chapter President Lauren Hardison, officers Andrew Chambers, Mary Scott Norris and Malen Eiriksdottir, and chapter members Tony Evans, Caitlin Gordon, Brad Dowdall, Jess Daniel, Madalyn Liefert, Crystal Reyes, and Ryen Reid.
Catawba's PBL Chapter received an award for increasing the overall number of members from the previous academic year. Catawba students attended leadership development and other workshops; the conference ended with the Saturday evening Awards Convocation where winners from the approximately 300 participants in the business competitive events were announced.
Catawba College students receiving honors from the statewide competitive events include:
Individual Event Winners:
- Accounting Principles – Tony Evans 3rd
- Accounting for Professionals – Caitlin Gordon 3rd, Brad Dowdall 5th
- Computer Concepts – Andrew Chambers 3rd
- Cost Accounting – Lauren Hardison 1st
- Financial Concepts – Caitlin Gordon 3rd
- Macroeconomics – Ryen Reid 2nd, Brad Dowdall 4th
- Marketing Concepts – Jess Daniel 3rd
- Microeconomics – Ryen Reid 2nd
- Networking Concepts – Tony Evans 4th
- Retail Management – Andrew Chambers 1st
- Statistical Analysis – Lauren Hardison 4th
Presentation Event Winners:
- Business Sustainability – Jess Daniel 3rd
- Impromptu Speaking – Madalyn Liefert 8th
- Job Interview – Crystal Reyes 6th
Team Event Winners:
- Social Media Campaign – Malen Eiriksdottir and Mary Scott Norris 2nd
L-R: Malen Eiriksdottir, Lauren Hardison, Jess Daniel, Andrew Chambers, PBL State Advisor Dan Hazlett, Madalyn Liefert, Brad Dowdall, Mary Scott Norris
Students receiving 1st through 3rd place in most events automatically qualify for the national competitions to be held at PBL Nationals in Anaheim, California in June of this year. Students receiving bids to Nationals are Malen Eiriksdottir and Mary Scott Norris for their work in Social Media Campaign, Andrew Chambers for his first place finish in Retail Management and third place finish in Computer Concepts, Ryen Reid for his second place finish in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, Lauren Hardison for her first place finish in Cost Accounting, Tony Evans for his third place finish in Accounting Principles, and Jess Daniel for her third place finish in Marketing Concepts. This is the largest number of students that have ever qualified for PBL Nationals from Catawba College.
Dr. Thompson received a certificate for her eight years of service as the PBL chapter advisor for Catawba. Dr. Thompson stated, "We had a lot of students compete this year – eleven total. The preparation started months ago and some students had to complete a three-hour case study prior to the conference along with a one-hour proctored exam on site. Presentation events were challenging and required research, a written synopsis and oral presentation in front of many judges. I am so proud of the students that competed this year. They worked extremely hard and their efforts reflect the quality of the classroom instruction, the aptitude, dedication and hard work from our students in their respective disciplines.”
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)-PBL is the largest business career student organization in the world with over 240,000 high school, college and professional division members. FBLA-PBL is recognized by the Association for Career and Technical Education, International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, National Association of Parliamentarians, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Business Education Association, and the U.S. Department of Education.
FBLA-PBL's National Awards Program recognizes and rewards excellence in a broad range of business and career-related areas. Through state-based competition at the spring State Leadership Conferences, students compete in events testing their business knowledge and skills. Top state winners are eligible to compete for honors at the National Leadership Conference each summer.
