Cottey students win at state competition

Front row: Vanessa Conatser, Chelsea Jones and Sarah Stone. Back row: Ashlyn Profio-Ens-minger, Patricia Martinez, Jessica Martinez, Tori DaHarb and Maggie Thomas. --submitted photo

The 50th Annual Missouri Phi Beta Lambda State Leadership Conference was held in Jefferson City, March 27-28.

The conference featured competitive business events for individuals and teams and election of state officers for the next year.

Phi Beta Lambda is a national organization for students at the collegiate level who plan to pursue careers in the business environment. Phi Beta Lambda students develop leadership and teamwork skills that will lead to future success.

There are more than 11,000 active members in the United States. Missouri has more than 500 members in 26 chapters. Students from colleges and universities across Missouri including University of Missouri-Columbia, Truman State University, Evangel University, Crowder College, Lincoln University, State Fair Community College as well as many others competed. Cottey student Jessica Martinez gave an outstanding rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" for more than 250 participants at the conference.

The PBL organization offers a great opportunity for business students to practice their skills learned in the classroom in business competitive events before entering the world of work.

"I am very proud of the Cottey students who participated and placed in the competition. This is a great opportunity for students to showcase their skills and abilities and get just a glimpse of the future work world. I believe the students gain valuable experience from competing against their peers. Such experience will also help in future job searches," said Dr. Gary Lunkenheimer, assistant professor of business and economics for Cottey College.

Students at the conference competed in several areas including: Economic Con-cepts, Financial Concepts, Human Resource Manage-ment, Hospitality Manage-ment, Public Speaking, and Business Law. The following Cottey students placed in the State of Missouri Phi Beta Lambda Leadership Confer-ence and Competition: Patricia Martinez, first place, Help Desk; Jessica Martinez, first place, Client Service and second place, Human Resource Management; Sarah Stone, second place, Hospitality Management and second place, Sales Presentation; Maggie Thomas, fourth place, Job Interview and fifth place, Public Speaking; Tori DaHarb, fifth place, Business Law.

Patricia Martinez, Jessica Martinez and Sarah Stone all qualified to compete at the PBL National Leadership Conference and Competition, June 20-23, in Anaheim, Calif.