OPSU PBL Dominates at State Leadership Conference

Oklahoma Panhandle State University Phi Beta Lamba (PBL) members participated in the State Leadership Conference (SLC) on March 26 at Mid-American Christian University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

College of Business and Technology Dean Davin Winger commented, “I am proud of our PBL students. They inspire me, and it is a blessing to teach them. I am also thankful for their advisors Mrs. Kim Smith and Dr. Sara Hitch for their dedication, as well as going the extra mile for their students, PBL, and Panhandle State.”

OPSU PBL students earned twelve state championships, four second-place finishes, and one third-place finish.

Haylee Behne took first place in Business Decision Making and second place in Business Communication. Hunter Harris took first place in Help Desk and second place in Computer Concepts. Julie Johnson took first place in Computer Concepts and first place in Programming Concepts. Jayden Valdez took first place in Cyber Security. Loren Breon took third place in Cyber Security, first place in Information Management, and first place in Public Speaking. Shalom Ngalaba took first place in Global Analysis & Decision Making, first place in Client Service, and first place in Business Ethics. Catarina Tum Garcia took second place in Microeconomics. Manuel Medina took second place in Networking Concepts. Jesus Mesta took first place in Impromptu Speaking. The team of Loren Breon and Jayden Valdez took first place in Network Design.

Hunter Harris reflected, “Competing at the State Conference with PBL allowed me to display my talents with my fellow students.”

Manuel Medina, OPSU PBL Treasurer commented, “I am proud to represent OPSU PBL at State Leadership Conference. It was an awesome event full of fun, competitions, networking, leadership workshops, and more. The competition results are proof that Success Starts with OPSU PBL, and with the faculty from OPSU’s College of Business and Technology. We are successful because of the lessons they teach us, and because of the work we do to learn from them. I cannot wait to see what happens at Nationals!”

Nine students qualified for the National Leadership Conference and National Competitions set for Chicago, Illinois in June 2022.