Eighteen Peru State College students recently placed in the top 10 nationally in 13 categories at the Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) National Leadership Conference in Chicago.

PBL is a state and national business and leadership association. The competition focused on a wide range of business and leadership-related tests, including subjects ranging from financial analysis and economic concepts to human resource management and business ethics.

President Dan Hanson said, “Peru State PBL has been enormously successful at nationals, earning nine national championships in the past five years and many top 10 finishes. I want to congratulate and thank all of the students on our PBL team for representing Nebraska’s first college in such an outstanding way.

“Providing our undergraduate students an opportunity to present their work at a national conference is one way Peru State works to create unique opportunities for student engagement while also opening doors that can benefit future careers. These national awards are a tribute to the hard work of our students, their advisors and the faculty in the School of Professional Studies.”

The 18 students who placed in the top 10 at nationals include:

2nd place Management Analysis & Decision Making – Kesha Beethe, Kenny Bias & Marshall Klontz

2nd place Sales Presentation – Kesha Beethe

3rd place Community Service (The CHANCE Initiative) – presented by Preston Sunneberg & Taylor Zillig

3rd place Cost Accounting – Hope Harsh

4th place Word Processing – Mary Blacketer

5th place Future Business Executive – Alex Wessels

5th place Networking Design – John Beal, Dustin Gerdes & River Towne

6th place Business Decision Making – Alex Wessels & Zach Zobel

8th place Human Resource Management – Benjamin Amoussou, Zak Ruei & Cody Sullivan

8th place Strategic Analysis & Decision Making – Kenny Bias & Zach Zobel

9th place Accounting for Professionals – Brandie Westhart

9th place Emerging Business Issues – Josh Frerichs & Isaiah Spears

10th place Business Law – Benjamin Amoussou

In addition, the following individuals qualified for finals (top 15):

Integrated Marketing Campaign – Hannah Chubbuck

Small Business Management Plan – John Beal

Other students that competed this year include Ryan Arnold, Alexandria Donovan, Lauren Robertson, Emily Slama.

Peru State PBL also earned the following chapter recognitions:

  • Hollis and Kitty Guy Gold Seal Chapter Award of Merit
  • Outstanding Local Chapter Award
  • Chapter Challenge Award
  • Non-Stop November Award
  • Super Sweeps Award
  • Action Awareness Award
  • Seven Up Award