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Campus Business Club Named 'Outstanding State Chapter'
(Press Release 04-10-06)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Members of Eastern Oklahoma State College’s chapter of Phi Beta Lambda found the keys to success as they traveled to the Tulsa Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center March 30–April 1, for the 2006 Oklahoma FBLA–PBL State Leadership Conference according to club sponsors. Post–secondary representatives from universities and junior colleges participated in the annual event.

Friday morning was filled with activity as Eastern’s members joined with students from 13 schools across the state to compete for the opportunity to represent Oklahoma at the 2006 FBLA–PBL National Leadership Conferences in Nashville, Tennessee, this summer.

Eastern freshman Mandy Atkinson campaigned for the office of PBL Two–Year College Vice President. Chapter members helped Atkinson throughout the day. Members also competed in Open Events, Oklahoma only competitions.

The Opening General Session began with the parade of local chapter presidents, including Eastern’s president Jayme Darragh, Hatfield, AR. Eastern received first place in the Oklahoma PBL Pubic Relations award competition. Three Eastern Oklahoma State College members were recognized for achieving the Director Level of PBL’s CMAP (Career & Membership Achievement Program). Receiving honors were Sharon Taylor, McAlester; Amanda Mayhew, Wilburton; and Karen Rogers, Wilburton.

Bill Cordes, a nationally-known speaker, served as keynote for the evening. His programs have been featured in 46 states, 4 islands and Washington, D.C. Cordes is the author of The YOGOWYPI Factor, and has co-authored Teen Power Too, Teen Empower, Teen Power through Christ, Teen Power and Beyond and Lead Now or Step Aside.

His message is simple—YOGOWYPI (You Only Get Out What You Put In). He combined humor, enthusiasm and drew on his extensive life experience from being a former school teacher, college instructor, coach and television talk show host, to create a lively evening!

After the opening session, Eastern’s members joined with students for a game night. Highlight of the game night was state advisors Brian Ferrell and Linda Morgan putting pies in the face of the 2005-2006 Oklahoma FBLA-PBL State Officers.

The annual awards brunch was held Saturday morning. Capturing first place awards for Eastern were Robert Russell, McAlester, in C++ Programming; Amanda Thomas, McAlester & Chris Mervyn, McAlester, in Desktop Publishing; and Robert Russell and James Russell, McAlester, in Network Design. The team of Krista Kendrick, Wilburton, Atkinson, and Darragh placed first in the American Enterprise Project. Taylor and Mayhew placed first with the chapter’s Community Service Project. The Local Chapter Annual Business Report also placed first.

Placing second were Mervyn in Computer Concepts and Thomas in Word Processing. Third place was Atkinson in Public Speaking. Phylicia Karch, Canadian, placed fifth in Economic Concepts.

Taylor received first place in the PBL Telephone Skills Open Event competition and Atkinson placed 3rd in PBL Facts.

The chapter was named Outstanding PBL Chapter. Taylor was also named Who’s Who in Oklahoma PBL. Atkinson will serve as Two-Year College Vice President for the State Chapter of Phi Beta Lambda for 2006-2007.

Sponsors for Eastern’s chapter are Estella Bennett-Mask, Linda Morgan, and Debbie Layton. George Larson assisted them this semester. Bennett–Mask served as Oklahoma FBLA-PBL Competitive Events Chair; Larson served as Oklahoma FBLA–PBL Computer Events Coordinator; and Morgan serves as the Oklahoma FBLA-PBL State Advisor.

Members will next find the key to unlock their potential at the 2006 PBL National Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, June 24-27.

Future Business Leaders of America–Phi Beta Lambda, Inc., is a national student vocational education association that prepares students for careers in business and business education. Membership is over 260,000 in 11,000 chapters across the United States and abroad. Future Business Leaders of America is the high school division; Phi Beta Lambda is the collegiate division.

Caption info:

Eastern PBL members attending the state leadership conference included from front left: EOSC Instructor George Larson; Chris Mervyn, McAlester; Mandy Atkinson, Wilburton; Jayme Darragh, Hatfield, AR; James Russell, McAlester; Robert Russell, McAlester; and Co-Advisor Estella Bennett-Mask. Back Row: Co-Advisor Debbie Layton; Krista Kendrick, Wilburton; Phylicia Karch, Canadian; Amanda Mayhew, Wilburton; Sharon Taylor, McAlester; Amanda Thomas, McAlester and Co-Advisor Linda Morgan.