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Area Business Students Win National Awards
(Press Release 08-06-06)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

The team of Atkinson, and Kendrick placed fifth in the American Enterprise Project with a written report and oral presentation outlining the activities of a workshop conducted by Eastern’s chapter and targeted to sixth grade students about the basic concepts of owning a business. During the “Wheel of Business” workshop students identified the skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur through interactive games and the building of a simple business plan. The concept of risk was reinforced when students spun the “wheel of business,” which had both positive and negative situations, with an assigned monetary amount, and had to apply that situation to his/her business plan. Approximately 80 students participated in the workshop. Robert Russell placed third in C++ Programming and James Russell was tenth in Computer Concepts. The team of Russell and Russell also placed tenth in the Network Design competition. The Local Chapter Annual Business Report placed third and the chapter received a $100 award sponsored by API–Marketplace of Lanham, MD. The team of Thomas and Taylor competed in the Community Service Project preliminary round with a report and oral presentation outlining the year-long activities the chapter conducted to help the Stigler Women’s Shelter and to make Eastern students more aware of domestic abuse. So successful was the chapter’s “Eastern Idol” fundraiser that it is slated to be an annual event. Thomas also competed in Desktop Publishing.

Approximately 1,500 students from around the nation competed in more than 40 events representing a range of business, career, and leadership activities. Eastern students became eligible to compete at the national conference after placing in the top five at Oklahoma’s state conference in April. “We have spent many hours in practice and review preparing for this competition and we are very proud of our students’ accomplishments,” said co-advisor Bennett-Mask.

The Eastern PBL Chapter also received the Gold Seal Chapter of Merit Award. “This award is given in recognition of outstanding achievements by a chapter during the year,” stated co-advisor Morgan. Additional chapter awards included the 100 per cent Class Participation award, first place at the regional level for recruitment of Professional Division members and the Outstanding Chapter Recognition Award for activities to enrich the experiences of members at the local, state and national levels.

Taylor also completed the Career Track of the Institute for Leaders, conducted two days prior to the beginning of the national conference, graduating with honors. Additionally, she was recognized for having achieved the Director Level of the Career and Membership Achievement Program. James Russell received a scholarship to attend the National Leadership Conference. The scholarship was based upon a demonstration of leadership skills, participation in Phi Beta Lambda and academic performance “I feel honored to have received the scholarship especially since the competition was nationwide,” said Russell.

In addition to the competitive events, students and advisors attended career and motivational workshops and campaigned for and elected regional and national officers. Phi Beta Lambda, the postsecondary division of FBLA-PBL, Inc., has approximately 11,000 members in 461 chartered chapters. There are four levels of participation in FBLA–PBL; middle school, high school, post-secondary, and professional.

Caption info:

Eastern participants attending the national conference include from left: James Russell, Freshman, McAlester; Estella Bennett-Mask, PBL Co–Advisor; Amanda Thomas, Sophomore, McAlester; Linda Morgan, PBL Co–Advisor; Mandy Atkinson, Freshman, Wilburton; Debbie Layton, PBL Co–Advisor; Krista Kendrick, Freshman, Wilburton; Sharon Taylor, Sophomore, McAlester and Robert Russell, Freshman, McAlester.