Williams Baptist College’s Phi Beta Lambda chapter recently traveled to the state leadership conference where they won a host of awards and had 15 business students qualify for nationals. The annual meeting was held in Little Rock on April 6-7.

PBL, which is comprised of college business students, is the collegiate extension of the Future Business Leaders of America.

Williams Phi Beta Lambda students at the State Leadership Conference earlier this month.

“”Everyone’s hard work for each event was rewarded by bringing home several awards and keeping the Williams PBL tradition alive, qualifying for nationals,” said senior Luke Carter, the chapter president.

To qualify for the National Leadership Conference, which will be held in Baltimore, Md., this June, students must win first, second or third place in state testing categories, or first or second place in presentation events.

Williams students winning first place awards were: Alec Scott and Allen Thompson (Business Decision Making); Ashton Kennedy, Bobby Hatfield and Zach Revier (Business Law); Davis Fetzer and Scott (Community Service Project); Oni Robertson and Betsy Ryan (Emerging Business Issues); Ryan (Local Chapter Annual Business Report); Noah Stoddard (Personal Finance); and Robertson and Ryan (Small Business Management Plan).

Students placing second were: Anna Gage and Bailey Eubanks (Business Stability); Grady Majors, Revier and Fetzer (Integrated Marketing Campaign); Stoddard (Organizational Behavior); and Conor Karwath, MaKenzie Moore and Luke Carter (Small Business Management Plan).

Third place finishers were: Dakota Dywer and Thompson (Business Presentation); and Kole Meador and Majors (Marketing Analysis and Decision Making).

Earning fourth place honors were: Meador (Accounting Principles); Carter (Contemporary Sports Issues); Andrew Taylor (Microeconomics); and Karwath (Sales Presentation).

Fifth place winners were: Hatfield (Justice Administration); and Georgia Mara (Marketing Concepts).

The Williams PBL group also earned Gold Chapter Status. In order to become a Gold Chapter, PBL chapters must meet certain expectations. WBC’s PBL participated in more events at the state competition, interacted with local FBLA chapters and business professionals, completed community service projects and raised money for charity to once again earn the golden status.

Williams is a Christian, liberal arts university in Walnut Ridge. It will officially become Williams Baptist University in July.