U of O PBL chapter wins 2015 Sweepstakes award at state competition

University of the Ozarks’ Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) took home the overall Collegiate Level Sweepstakes title for the second consecutive year in the 2015 Arkansas FBLA-PBL State Leadership Conference, held April 10-11 in Little Rock.

Competing against 10 other colleges and universities from throughout Arkansas, the U of O chapter won seven individual category titles, and also had seven second-place finishes and six third-place finishes to capture the Sweepstakes trophy.

Those Ozarks chapter members who earned first-place honors included, Gerardo Navarette (Business Law), Amanda Paz (Client Service and Public Speaking), Cason Henehen (Financial Analysis and Decision Making), Brandon Brewer (Future Business Educator), Liliam Lopez (Marketing Analysis and Decision Making), and Debora Castro (Organizational Behavior and Leadership).

Those earning second place honors were, Phillip Jenkins (Accounting Principles), Josephine Compton (Cost Accounting), Harold Rye (International Business), Catalina Chen (Job Interview), Karla Guerra (Marketing Analysis and Decision Making), Allison Lacayo (Marketing Analysis and Decision Making ), and Andrea Munoz (Marketing Analysis and Decision Making).

The third-place finishers from Ozarks were, Lilian Estrada (Accounting Analysis and Decision Making), Diana Perez (Accounting Analysis and Decision Making), Henehen (Accounting for Professionals), Brewer (Business Communication), Chen (Future Business Executive), and Castro (Information Management).

The top three finishers in each category are eligible to compete in the PBL National Leadership Conference in Chicago this summer.

In addition, Jenkins was selected to serve as the state secretary/treasurer for the state organization for the 2015-16 year.

“We couldn’t be more proud of the students and all of the efforts that go into winning this prestigious award,” said Cynthia Lanphear, Ozarks business professor and PBL faculty advisor. “They continue to carry on the Ozarks tradition with the highest level of pride and honor, despite competing against schools that are much larger. Ozarks represents one of the oldest chapters in the United States as well as one of the most highly decorated throughout its 57-year history on our campus.”