Three students from the Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) business club at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) placed in competitions offered by the PBL National Leadership Experience.

Once again, the conference took place virtually June 24-27 due to COVID-19, said Dr. Ed Birdyshaw, PBL faculty adviser and associate professor of economics at Missouri State-West Plains.

• Joseph Grant, Willow Springs, placed fourth in Computer Concepts and ninth in Information Management.
• Cheyenne Cavitt, West Plains, placed eighth in Impromptu Speaking.
• Cynthia Peak, Willow Springs, placed ninth in Hospitality Management.

Students who placed in the top 10 of each event will receive awards, Birdyshaw said.

“We are very proud of our students’ hard work during a challenging academic year,” Birdyshaw said.

All three qualified for the national competitions by placing in the top three of state competitions at the Missouri PBL Leadership Conference in April. The state conference also was held virtually due to COVID-19.

MSU-WP alumna Angelia Ashberger, West Plains, who graduated in 2020 and is attending MSU in Springfield, took home top honors in the Entrepreneurships Concepts competition at the national conference, Birdyshaw said.

PBL is a career and technical student organization that includes divisions at the middle school, high school, collegiate and professional levels in all 50 states.

For more information about PBL, contact Birdyshaw at 417-255-7727 or ebirdyshaw@missouristate.edu.