March 18, 2004

Cowley Phi Beta Lambda students score well at state contest

From left: Amber Reuber, Jessica Whitson, Russell Lowden, Chelsea Scott, Lori Aikins, Angela Root, Lindsey Patton, and PBL Adviser Beverly Grunder. Not pictured: Marni Erb.

Thirteen students in Cowley County Community College's Phi Beta Lambda chapter brought home six first-place finishes at the annual State Leadership Conference and Competition held March 4-5 in Salina.

Cowley competed against students from Central College of McPherson, Colby Community College, Friends University, Emporia State University, Kansas State University and Labette Community College. The events consisted of written tests, computer application tests, and job interviews.

Cowley's first-place finishers:
Marni Erb, Mulvane freshman, Computer Applications; Jessica Whitson, Oxford sophomore, Accounting Principles and Business Communications; Chelsea Scott, Wellington sophomore, Word Processing; and Russell Lowden, Arkansas City sophomore, Business Principles and Quantitative Methods.

Second-place finishers:
Lori Aikins, Winfield sophomore, Job Interview; Amber Reuber, West Elk freshman, Computer Applications.

Third-place finishers:
Erb, Human Resource Management; Lindsey Patton, Wellington freshman, Information Management; Scott, Quantitative Methods; Lowden, Computer Concepts and Economics.

Aikins, Erb, Patton, Scott, and Reuber all are majoring in business administration. Whitson and Lowden are majoring in accounting.

Those who placed at the state competition are eligible to attend the National Conference in Denver, Colo., July 8-12, 2004.

Angela Root, Winfield sophomore, will be serving as the vice president on the Kansas State Board of Officers.

Beverly Grunder, the organization's adviser, was named the Kansas PBL Adviser of the Year for 2002-2003. It is the second time Grunder has received the award in the last three years. Students make nominations for the adviser award, and the winner is chosen by the Kansas State Board of Officers.

"Phi Beta Lambda offers the students a way to build their confidence and leadership skills," Grunder said. "It is always a joy to see the students grow and mature through this program."