Students win at Phi Beta Lambda State Leadership Conference

April 3, 2008
Contact: Paul K. Logsdon, Director of Public Relations and Publications, 417-865-2815, Ext. 7292

Springfield, Mo. — Evangel University business students participated in the 49th Annual Missouri Phi Beta Lambda State Leadership Conference in Jefferson City March 28-29, 2008.

The conference, themed Leadership in Action, featured competitive events for individuals and teams, leadership training and election of officers for the next year.

Students placed first or second in 17 categories. They are now eligible to represent Evangel at the National Leadership Conference to be held June 21-24, 2008, in Atlanta, Ga.

“EU students placed in the top five more often than any other Missouri institution,” said Elizabeth Fletcher, PBL advisor and chair of the business and economics department. “We are also sending more students to the national convention than any other Missouri institution.”

The following Evangel University students were recognized at the awards program:

First Place winners

• Accounting Decision Making: Ariela Ruiz, senior accounting major from Clifton, N.J.
• Accounting for Professionals: Melinda Porter, senior accounting major from Ozark, Mo.
• Business Ethics Team: Blair Diel, freshman management and Biblical studies double major from Topeka, Ks.; Nic Reasor, sophomore management major from Nixa, Mo.; Joshua Young, sophomore management major from Beavercreek, Oh.
• Emerging Business Issues Team: Brian Dockery, senior accounting major from Shepherdsville, Ky.; Jordan Izumi, senior management major from Kaneohe, Hi.;
• Financial Services: Ariela Ruiz
• Macroeconomics: Gabe VanHuss, sophomore accounting and English double major from Springfield, Mo.
• Management Concepts Team: Michael Vandersteen, senior accounting major from Munster, In.; Joshua Young
• Microeconomics: Michael Kincheloe, senior accounting major from Kansas City, Mo.
• State Parliamentarian: Zachariah Terhark, sophomore accounting major from Corwith, Ia.

Second Place winners

• Chapter Membership (EU was 2nd largest in the state—surpassed only by MU)
• Chapter Annual Business Report, prepared by Bryan Dockery
• Accounting Decision Making: Michael Kincheloe
• Accounting Principles: Zachariah Terhark
• Contemporary Sports Issues: Nic Reasor
• Financial Concepts: Sarah Finkenbinder, senior accounting major from Brooklyn Center, Mn.
• Management Analysis & Decision Making: Mary Menke, senior marketing major from Wadsworth, Oh.
• Parliamentary Procedure Team: Bryan Dockery, Cassandra Hill, senior marketing and Spanish double major from Springfield, Mo., Zachariah Terhark and Gabe VanHuss

Workshop sessions at the convention included “Employers—What Are They Looking For” conducted by Chester White, director of personnel for the Missouri office of administration, “PBL Wants You” by Buddy Alberson, PBL state vice president, “Becoming an Influential Leader” by Andrew McCrea, McCrea Communications, and “The PBL Connection” by Alicia Stewart, PBL north central vice president.

The keynote speaker for the event was Andrew McCrea, McCrea Communications. He shared “The Three Keys to Leadership.”

Phi Beta Lambda is an educational association of postsecondary student members preparing for careers in business. There are over 11,000 active members in the U.S. Missouri has over 500 members in 26 chapters.

For additional information, contact Elizabeth Fletcher or (417) 865-2815 ext. 8110