WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Five members of the Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) business club at Missouri State University-West Plains placed in competitions at the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)/PBL National Leadership Conference June 24-27 in Anaheim, California.

Dillon Cordel and Derek McGinnis, both of West Plains, placed third in the Business Law team event. Weston Mitchell and Jim Listopad, both of Cabool, and Darian Williams, West Plains, teamed up to place seventh in Computer Animation. Listopad also earned second place honors in Programming Concepts, and Mitchell earned seventh place honors in Organizational Behavior and Leadership.

Trophies were awarded to first through 10th place winners, and first through third place winners were awarded cash prizes. Students from two- and four-year colleges all over the nation competed at the conference, according to Dasha Russell, instructor of accounting and PBL faculty adviser.

INSTRUCTORS CREDITED

The students credited their winning performances to their instructors, Assistant Professor of Computer Graphics and Programming Jacob Poulette, Lecturer of Computer Graphics and Programming Tera Smith, and Professor of Communications Dr. Gary L. Phillips of the Missouri State-West Plains campus, and Professor of Business Law Dr. Steven R. Henry of Missouri State-West Plains’ branch campus at Liaoning Normal University in Dalian, China.

The students also credited their PBL advisers, Russell, Associate Professor of Business David White and Associate Professor of Economics Dr. Edward Birdyshaw, with their success at nationals.

The trip was funded by grants from the Philanthropic Women for Education, the university’s annual fund, the Student Government Association and fundraising efforts by PBL members.