Business Club Brings Home National Awards
(Press Release 07-28-08)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

The Peach State was where Eastern Oklahoma State College delegates “put leadership in action,” according to Linda Morgan, adviser for Eastern Oklahoma State College’s Phi Beta Lambda chapter. “Leadership in Action” was the theme for this year’s Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Future Business Leaders of America–Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA–PBL) is a professional association of high school and college students pursuing business careers. Success came in the form of several awards for Eastern Oklahoma State College and student Stormy McCarn, Clayton.

McCarn competed in the Job Interview event. The competition is designed to recognize members who demonstrate proficiency in applying for employment in business. Each participant applied for a business or business–related job at a company of his/her choice. Each submitted a one–page letter of application and a brief résumé. Each completed a job application with a writing prompt. Forty–two PBL members competed in the event.

The first day of competition, McCarn competed in the preliminary round against thirteen. McCarn was selected for the final competition to be held the following day. Fifteen competed in the final round for the honor of being called to stage in the top ten during the Awards Ceremony. McCarn placed tenth. She became eligible to compete at the national conference after placing in the top five at Oklahoma’s state conference in April.

Eastern’s Local Chapter Annual Business Report placed seventh. The Hamden L. Forkner Award recognizes PBL chapters that effectively summarize their year’s activities. Business reports are used extensively to inform management, staff, stockholders, and the general public about all aspects of the business. The event provides participants with valuable experience in preparing annual business reports.

The Eastern PBL chapter also received the Gold Seal Chapter of Merit Award. “This award is given in recognition of outstanding achievements by a chapter during the year,” stated adviser Morgan. In addition, the chapter received first place in the Mountain Plains region for recruitment of Professional Division members. The work of Eastern members also enabled Oklahoma to receive second place in the Mountain Plains region for the recruitment of Professional Division members.

McCarn also served as campaign manager for Oklahoma’s candidate for PBL National Secretary, Gloria Lau. Lau, a student at the University of Oklahoma, conducted a three–day campaign for the national office and was elected to serve.

Morgan was recognized for 20 years of service to FBLA–PBL and for being named to the National FBLA–PBL Adviser Wall of Fame. She also serves as the Oklahoma FBLA–PBL State Adviser.

More than 1,600 students from across the nation and Puerto Rico competed in more than 57 events representing a range of business, career, and leadership activities.

In addition to the competitive events, students and advisers attended career and motivational workshops. Phi Beta Lambda, the postsecondary division of FBLA–PBL, Inc., has approximately 10,200 members in 472 chartered chapters. There are four levels of participation in FBLA–PBL: middle school, high school, post–secondary, and professional.

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Participants from the Eastern Oklahoma State College Phi Beta Lambda chapter attending the National Leadership Conference include Stormy McCarn, Clayton and Chapter Adviser Linda Morgan.