Bethany Arrigo
The State Leadership Conference, hosted by Indiana Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL), is an opportunity for young leaders to come together to compete, learn, network and receive recognition for their success. Recently, three Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) Phi Beta Lambda members attended the conference in Indianapolis. The students, earning first and second place in competitive events, now have the opportunity to compete at the National Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tenn., in June.
Bethany Arrigo of Manchester, N.H., PBL vice president and junior accounting major at SMWC, competed in Principles of Accounting, Financial Concepts and Personal Finance. She placed first in Personal Finance.
“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to compete at the national level,” stated Arrigo. “It will be my first time competing at a national collegiate level, and I’m optimistic that our entire chapter of Phi Beta Lambda will do well.”
Heather Davis
Heather Davis of Indianapolis, Ind., junior accounting major, competed in Principle of Accounting, Financial Concepts and Personal Finance, and placed second in Personal Finance. Jessica McManus of Logansport, Ind., senior psychology major, competed in Computer Concepts and Organizational Behavior and Leadership, and placed second in Computer Concepts.
Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda is the largest and oldest business student organization in the world. A quarter of a million high school and middle school students, college and university students, faculty, educators, administrators, and business professionals have chosen to be members of the premier business education association preparing students for careers in business.
The competitive event for Personal Finance, for example, was a 100-question test on the topics of finance management and personal portfolios, including taxes, stock and bond options, annuities and budgeting.
Jessica McManus
“We are very proud of the students’ efforts at the State Leadership Conference. The National Leadership Conference this summer is the annual culminating trip for our PBL leadership club, and it will be a nice opportunity for these students to be rewarded for their leadership during the academic year,” stated Jim Tanoos, assistant professor of management at SMWC. “Experience is important for leaders, and if they can gain confidence in some opportunities like this, they will be empowered to keep climbing higher towards larger scale leadership activities later down the road.”
At these conferences, students are able to sharpen their leadership skills by participating in competitive events, attending workshops, working toward new certifications and attending seminars. Students are able to interact with fellow students in a professional setting that mirrors the real business world and shape their future careers.