(Peru, Neb.) Ten members of Peru State College’s (PSC) chapter of Phi Beta Lambda (PBL), a state and national business association, will represent Nebraska at the association’s National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, Calif., in June.

The following students have each earned a trip to nationals after placing first and/or second in a variety of competitive events at the 2009 Nebraska Phi Beta Lambda State Leadership Conference in Kearney.

Kelly Bush, Junior - Arcadia
Kristin Fass, Senior – Auburn
Lisa Sierks, Junior - Auburn
Shantee White, Senior - Bellevue
Kurt Bleach, Senior - Dorchester
Elizabeth McKim, Junior – Humboldt
Jennifer Epting, Senior – North Platte
Bob McLaughlin, Junior – Rising City
Josh Nelson, Senior - Shickley
Amanda Knickman, Senior - Syracuse

Since national participants can only compete in two events, four other PSC students who placed in the statewide competition also have an opportunity to move up in the rankings and compete at nationals.

The competition focused on a wide range of business-related tests, including subjects ranging from financial analysis and economic concepts to human resource management and business ethics. PSC Assistant Professor of Business Sheri Grotrian is the group’s advisor.

PSC President Stan Carpenter said, “The students who competed have shown a real desire to understand all of the nuances of business, which will ultimately help prepare them for future careers in the industry. This is a tough competition, so it’s a testament to the quality of the students we have here at Peru State to have 10 qualify for nationals.”

The Peru State chapter of PBL as a whole was honored at the statewide conference with the Bronze Excellence Award for their commitment to the organization by participating in various community service projects and other activities. The chapter was also awarded a Scrapbook Certificate, which was created by Amanda Knickman as part of her chapter historian role.

PSC’s top finishers in the individual competition at the state level include:

Jennifer Clark – Junior - Bellevue
5th Place - Word Processing

Jennifer Epting – Senior – North Platte
1st Place - Job Interview

2nd Place - Future Business Executive

2nd Place - Financial Services

4th Place - Accounting for Professionals

6th Place - Accounting Analysis & Decision Making

Amanda Knickman – Senior - Syracuse
Who's Who in PBL Award

Elizabeth McKim – Junior - Humboldt
6th Place - Microeconomics

7th Place - Statistical Analysis

8th Place - Macroeconomics

Bob McLaughlin – Junior – Rising City
1st Place - Sports Management & Marketing

Josh Nelson – Senior - Shickley
2nd Place - Sales Presentation

3rd Place - Job Interview

8th Place - Future Business Executive

Eden Pinkelman – Junior - Hartington
4th Place - Sports Management & Marketing

Lisa Sierks – Junior - Auburn
2nd Place - Business Law

Kelley Scanlan – Senior - Plattsmouth
5th Place - Future Business Executive

Dan Swartzendruber – Senior - Shickley
4th Place - Database Design & Application

Ryan Voegele – Senior – Falls City

3rd Place - Accounting for Professionals

6th Place - Justice Administration

Jessika Wetzler – Senior – Las Vagas, Nev.
4th Place - Human Resource Management

Shantee White – Senior - Bellevue
2nd Place - Human Resource Management

 
PSC’s top finishers in the team competition at the state level include:

Bush, McKim & Sierks

2nd Place - Marketing Analysis & Decision Making

Knickman, Fass & White
1st Place - Business Decision Making

3rd Place - Community Service Project

Knickman, Fass & Scanlan
3rd Place - Hospitality Management

Knickman & Fass
1st Place - Business Ethics

3rd Place - Desktop Publishing

Nelson, Epting & Bleach

1st Place - Emerging Business Issues

5th Place - Human Resource Management

Nelson & Scanlan
4th Place - Management Analysis & Decision Making

Nelson, Bleach & Swartzendruber
3rd Place - Network Design