Campus Business Club Claims Honors At State Conference
(Press Release 04-25-08)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Submitted story

Members of Eastern Oklahoma State College’s chapter of Phi Beta Lambda put their leadership in action as they traveled to the Doubletree Hotel at Warren Place for the 2008 Oklahoma FBLA–PBL State Leadership Conference. Post–secondary representatives from universities and community colleges participated in the annual event.

Friday morning was filled with activity as Eastern’s members joined with students from 14 schools across the state to compete for the opportunity to represent Oklahoma at the 2008 FBLA–PBL National Leadership Conferences in Atlanta this summer.

The Opening General Session began with the parade of presidents, including Eastern’s Stormy McCarn, Clayton. FBLA–PBL National Membership Director Lisa Frye Smothers joined the group for the conference.

Grant Baldwin, a relevant leader and an engaging communicator who is making a significant impact in the lives of students across the country, was keynote for the evening. Having experienced multiple divorces within his family, Grant knew what it was to turn hardship into hope. As a teenager, he began to see how he could use his challenges to encourage and empower those around him. He shared hilarious and moving stories with the audience.

The annual awards brunch was held Saturday morning. Eastern sophomore Stormy McCarn placed first in Job Interview and third in Business Communication. Renato Zink, sophomore from Wilburton, placed third in Computer Concepts. Eastern received first place in the Local Chapter Annual Business Report event.

Additional recognitions for Eastern included first place in the Oklahoma PBL Public Relations award competition and second place for the Outstanding Chapter award. McCarn was also named to Who’s Who in Oklahoma PBL.

Advisers for the chapter are Linda Morgan and George Larson. Larson served as Oklahoma FBLA–PBL Computer Events Coordinator, and Morgan serves as the Oklahoma FBLA–PBL State Adviser.

Morgan received a surprise as a reception was held in her honor. She has been named to the FBLA–PBL Adviser Wall of Fame at the national center in Reston, Virginia. The FBLA–PBL Adviser Wall of Fame recognizes advisers and state chairs with 20 or more years of service to FBLA–PBL. Morgan is the third Oklahoman to receive the award since its inception in 1995.

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 middle and high school division and Phi Beta Lambda is the collegiate division.

Caption Info:

Members of Eastern Oklahoma State College’s chapter of Phi Beta Lambda recently returned from the 2008 Oklahoma FBLA–PBL State Leadership Conference with several honors. Pictured, front row, from left, Stormy McCarn, President and Renato Zink, Parliamentarian, both from Wilburton. Back row includes Linda Morgan, co-adviser and George Larson, co-adviser. McCarn placed first in Job Interview and third in Business Communication. Zink placed third in Computer Concepts.