(Peru, Neb.) – More than 1,800 of America’s best and brightest college students traveled to Maryland to Elevate their Futures as they competed for the opportunity to win more than $110,000 in cash awards.

The Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) National Leadership Conference (NLC) was held June 23–26 in Baltimore. Participants from across the United States attended this exciting conference to enhance their business skills, expand their networks, and participate in 60 business and business-related competitive events.

Nearly 80 Nebraska PBL members and advisers were among the 1,500 at the Baltimore NLC.

Nebraska PBL members captured five first places at their recent National Leadership Conference and the state chapter brought home 41 Top Ten finishes. As a state, Nebraska finished fourth among all of the states competing with its 41 awards. Also, a number of the members earned a cash prize along with their respective placing.

In addition, Joel Beckwith (Valencia, California) of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln PBL chapter was elected to serve as the Mountain Plains Vice President for the 2018-19 year. Beckwith succeeds Peru State’s Scott Riley (Auburn/Nebraska City) who served in that capacity for the 17-18 year. Beckwith is currently serving as Nebraska PBL’s Vice President of Public Relations.

Also, Abi Sheen (Kearney), a member of the University of Nebraska at Kearney PBL Chapter, was selected as the national parliamentarian so Nebraska PBL will be well represented on the national officer team. Sheen served Nebraska PBL this past year as an assistant vice president and this coming year will be the Vice President of Communications.

The awards earned are a part of a comprehensive national competitive events program sponsored by FBLA-PBL that recognizes and rewards excellence in a broad range of business and career-related areas. For many students, the competitive events are the capstone activity of their academic careers. In addition to the competitions, students immersed themselves in educational workshops, visited an information-packed exhibit hall, and attended motivational keynotes on a broad range of business topics.

Five First Place Event Winners

Out of the 55 national awards won by its members and chapters, Nebraska PBL had five first place honors.

Bradley Ernesti (Arlington) and Kate Richerson (Lincoln) – Nebraska Wesleyan University – Business Ethics Joel Beckwith (Valencia, Calif.) – University of Nebraska – Lincoln – Marketing Analysis & Decision Making George Chen (Lincoln) – University of Nebraska – Lincoln – Microeconomics Dawson Brunswick (McCook) – Chadron State College – Network Design Kate Richerson (Lincoln) – Nebraska Wesleyan University – Project Management

Other Top Ten Finishes

The following list includes the winners, city/state (if available), the college/university, and the event:

Second Place Winners Leyna Brummels (Ewing) – Chadron State College – Accounting Analysis & Decision Making Jesse Wiseman (Homer) – Northeast Community College – Cyber Security Christopher Nwafor (Lagos, Nigeria) – Peru State College – Future Business Educator Ryan Arnold (Houston) and Amanda Jo Cleek Arnold (Houston) – Peru State College – Mobile Application Development Jesse Wiseman (Homer) – Northeast Community College – Networking Concepts

Third Place Winners Joel Beckwith (Valencia, Calif.) – University of Nebraska – Lincoln – Business Presentation Ashley Laurie (McCook) – University of Nebraska at Kearney – Computer Animation Dawson Brunswick (McCook) – Chadron State College – Sales Presentation Haley Benedict (Springfield) – Peru State College – Website Design

Fourth Place Winners Haley Benedict (Springfield) – Peru State College – Desktop Publishing Trey Nelson (Lincoln) and Tristan Nelson (Lincoln) – Peru State College – Management Analysis & Decision Making

Fifth Place Winners Abi Sheen (Kearney) – University of Nebraska at Kearney – Administrative Technology Rachael Cole (Wymore) – Peru State College – Local Chapter Annual Business Report Whitney Koehn (Elmwood) – Nebraska Wesleyan University – Marketing Concepts Rozlyn Cole (Wymore), Anthony De Abreu (Caracas, Venezuela), Brooke Hays (Oxford), and Noah Temme (Fairmont) – Peru State College – Parliamentary Procedure Rozlyn Cole (Wymore), Sara Granfors (Seward), and Spencer Kerwin (Omaha) – Peru State College – Strategic Analysis & Decision Making

Sixth Place Winners George Chen (Lincoln) – University of Nebraska – Lincoln – Macroeconomics Hannah Cook (Ponca) – Peru State College – Organizational Behavior & Leadership Kenneth Erickson (Omaha) – University of Nebraska – Lincoln – Personal Finance Rachael Cole (Wymore) and Lindsay Harlow (Dawson) – Peru State College – Website Design

Seventh Place Winners Hunter Bergman (Neligh), Zaine Gallagher (Norfolk), and Shayla Kramer (Norfolk) – Northeast Community College – Community Service Project Hannah Parker (Powell, Wyo.) and Cole Satterfield (Broomfield, Colo.) – York College – Emerging Business Issues Ashli Becker (Yankton, S.D.) – Peru State College – Organizational Behavior & Leadership Cody Cooper (Gothenburg) – Chadron State College – Project Management Hunter Bergman (Neligh), Shanae Baker (Norfolk), and Zaine Gallagher (Norfolk) – Northeast Community College – Social Media Challenge

Eighth Place Winners

Trey Nelson (Lincoln) and Tristen Nelson (Lincoln) – Peru State College – Business Decision Making Lindsay Harlow (Dawson) and Brooke Hays (Oxford) – Peru State College – Forensic Accounting Kelsey Brummels (Ewing) and Tierra Snyder (Beatrice) – Chadron State College – Hospitality Management Madisyn Ayres (Minden) – Doane College – Job Interview Anthony De Abreau (Caracas, Venezuela) – Peru State College – Justice Administration

Ninth Place Winners Johnathan Quintanilla (Emporia, Kan.) and Seth Strudthoff (San Diego, Calif.) – Midland University – Economic Analysis & Decision Making

Tenth Place Winners Craig Anglesey (Alliance) – Nebraska Wesleyan University – Accounting Principles Preston Parry (Fort Belvior) – McCook Community College – Desktop Publishing Jennifer Campos (Alliance) – Chadron State College – Financial Analysis & Decision Making Yorgelys Jaspe (San Carlos, Venezuela) – Peru State College – Global Analysis & Decision Making Kelsey Brummels (Ewing) – Chadron State College – Retail Management

Who’s Who in Phi Beta Lambda Scott Riley (Auburn/Nebraska City) – Peru State College

Other Finalists Spencer Kerwin (Omaha) and Noah Temme (Fairmont) – Peru State College – Community Service Project Clayton Eldred (Erie, Colo.) and Garrett Ewing (Liberty, Mo.) – York College – Emerging Business Issues Taylor McHugh (Omaha) – Doane College – Human Resource Management Zach Zahnow (Littleton, Colo.) – Doane College – Impromptu Speaking Gabby Enloe (Colorado Springs, Colo.) – McCook Community College – Integrated Marketing Campaign Melissa Strong (Giltner) – York College – Job Interview Ryan Arnold (Houston) – Peru State College – Sales Presentation Velma Hauck (Fremont) and Ashli Becker (Yankton, S.D.) – Peru State College – Small Business Management Plan Brenda Lutz (Rock Port, Mo.) – Peru State College – Small Business Management Plan

Other Recognitions

Dr. Sheri Grotrian-Ryan (Nebraska City), adviser for the Peru State chapter, represented Nebraska as their adviser of the year.

The Nebraska PBL State Chapter was awarded several certificates. The state chapter placed first in the Mountain Plains region for having the most professional division members and the most PBL members. The state chapter was also recognized for having the second-most newly-recruited chapters.

The Peru State College and University of Nebraska – Lincoln chapters were recognized as Hollis and Kitty Guy Gold Seal Chapters of Merit which recognizes outstanding chapters that have actively participated in projects and programs identified with the goals of FBLA-PBL.

The Midland University Chapter was recognized for having the highest professional division membership in the Mountain Plains region.

Nebraska PBL was well represented as well in terms of workshops as there were two different presentations made by different individuals throughout the conference. Dr. Sheri Grotrian-Ryan and Dr. Kyle Ryan from Peru State have presented for several years. Their topic this year was “Your Future, Your Choice.” The presentation discussed the choices an individual makes and how it will affect your future of tomorrow and beyond. In addition, the workshop covered personal and professional wellness topics. Rita Bristol of Midland University presented “Leading Teams to Success.” This session provided tips on what is needed for a team to become one. Different strategies were discussed to help members achieve this goal.

In addition, State Adviser Ted L. Harshbarger (Humboldt) from Peru State assisted with the competitive events throughout the conference as part of the national awards program committee. He is serving his fourth term on the committee officially starting in September. Harshbarger has served as the state adviser for Nebraska PBL for 21 years.

About FBLA-PBL, Inc.

Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) education association with a quarter million members and advisers in over 6,500 active middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Its mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs. The association is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, just outside Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.fbla- pbl.org.

2019 NLC

San Antonio will be the site of the 2019 National Leadership Conference. The PBL NLC will be held June 24-27.