Middle Georgia Technical College

MGTC Phi Beta Lambda Students Place at State Competition

Atlanta - After taking home a record-setting 27 awards in the district competition, members of the Middle Georgia Technical College chapter of Phi Beta Lambda (PBL), Xi Alpha Nu, recently traveled to state competition in Atlanta. MGTC left the state conference with an unprecedented 28 awards, including the Chapter of the Year award. In addition, the club received a post-conference notice from the National FBLA-PBL organization designating Xi Alpha Nu as a 2007-2008 Outstanding Chapter.

Sam Lester, Business Office Technology instructor and PBL advisor, said the MGTC competitors did an outstanding job at the state competition.

"If there has been any doubt as to the teamwork, professionalism, and dedication in our students, then this weekend's events displays their high value," Lester said. "Teamwork, quality faculty instruction and student's dedicated preparation was a central theme to MGTC's success and it shows in a number of events. Also, the support of the faculty, staff, community and business partners, and students at our College of our pasta sales and blood drives is gratefully appreciated. This great support is what led to the Chapter of the Year award returning to MGTC this year!"

In addition to the many awards presented to the PBL club, MGTC's nominee for Businessperson of the Year, Jack Lester, also brought home the state award. Lester, city president of BB&T in Warner Robins, has provided great support and influence for the local PBL chapter and has visited the in MGTC campus on numerous occasions to hold financial lectures and provide input by serving on business panels and advisory committees. He has also contributed to Georgia PBL as a Corporate Sponsor in three events and served as judge for the FBLA and the South District Conference.

Also at the state competition, MGTC student Susan Holmstrom was elected to a state office. She is an Accounting student from Bonaire. Her leadership position will be determined during a training conference for state officers in May.

The PBL chapter at MGTC has 28 active members. Sixteen of those members competed at the state competition bringing home a total of 28 awards. Those finishing in first or second place will represent MGTC at the National Conference in June, which will be held in Atlanta also.

Vonda Belcher of Hawkinsville and Victoria Hart of Bonaire teamed up for a second place finish in Emerging Business Issues; Belcher also finished 5th in Job Interview; and Hart came in 3rd in the Future Business Executive Category.

The four member team of Jennifer Parker of Eastman, Laura Taylor, Melissa Wilson Robins, and Melissa Chamberlin-Muhlenbruch, all of Warner Robins, finished first in Parliamentary Procedure. Taylor also finished first in Word Processing and she received a medal from the National Association of Parliamentarians for having the highest score on the written test.

Wilson finished second in Word Processing and she and Taylor teamed up for a first place finish in the year-long Community Service Project.

Parker finished second in Statistical Analysis. Chamberlin-Muhlenbruch took fourth in Client Services and received first place by completing the Local Chapter Business Report.

Three MGTC students placed in the Financial Concepts event. Bohdana Conyers of Warner Robins placed second, Carol Joiner-Cano of Fort Valley placed fourth, and Sondra Wyatt of Bonaire, placed fifth. Conyers also received a cash prize for placing first in the Accounting Principles competition.

Joiner-Cano received fourth place in the International Business competition and teamed with Chamberlin-Muhlenbruch for first place in the Local Chapter Business Report competition.

Wyatt and Holmstrom also teamed up with Samantha McCrory of Warner Robins for a third place finish in Business Decision Making. Holmstrom also took fifth place in the Impromptu Speaking event.

The team of Mark Perry, of Kathleen, and Amanda Goff, of Warner Robins, took first place in the research-based Business Ethics competition.

Other individual winners were Celestine Clarington of Perry, first place for Information Management and fourth place for Microeconomics; Cynthia Jackson of Marshalville, first place in Computer Applications and fifth in Database Design and Applications; and MGTC PBL President Theresa Watkins, of Warner Robins, won first place in Client Services.

Phi Beta Lambda is a student business organization with the mission of bringing business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs. Throughout the year, students perform various community service acts, including raising money for the March of Dimes, the state project for Georgia PBL.

Xi Alpha Nu is open to all students.

To find out more about Middle Georgia Technical College, call 478.988.6800 or log on to www.middlegatech.edu . Apply now for Summer Quarter. Classes begin July 8.

Dr. Ivan Allen, president of MGTC, is surrounded by several of the state winners.