The Sterling College Future Business Leaders of America - Phi Beta Lambda chapter spent February 13 competing at the State Leadership Conference in Salina, Kansas, hosted by Fort Hays State University. Pitted against other college students from across Kansas in their knowledge of business practices and skills, the Sterling College students brought home 13 awards.

“I’m very proud of our students and the effort they have put into practicing for the competition. We had students qualify for nationals, making this another successful year at the state competition,” said Tim Thorpe, assistant professor of business administration and faculty adviser for PBL.

Alexandra Barner of Colorado Springs, Colorado, placed second in Job Interview.

Katrina Carman of Wellsville, Kansas, took home two individual awards: third place in Computer Applications and third place in Accounting for Professionals.

Matthew Dodd of Ottawa, Kansas, placed third in Personal Finance.

Taking home two awards, Jennifer Fruechting of Andover, Kansas, earned second place in Help Desk and third place in Macroeconomics.

Emily Fuller of Miltonvale, Kansas, was awarded second place in Personal Finance.

The top performer for Sterling College took home three first place awards. Matthew Garrett of Abbyville, Kansas, was awarded first place in Cybersecurity, Computer Concepts and Information Management.

Also winning first place in an individual competition, Joy Henderson of Maize, Kansas, took home the top award for Financial Concepts.

Henderson paired up with Carman in the team competition, combining their knowledge to earn second in Financial Analysis and Decision Making.

The FBLA-PBL National Leadership Conference in Chicago, Illinois, on June 24-27, 2015.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.

Mathew Garrett, Mathew Dodd, Katrina Carmen, Jennifer Fruechting, Jamie Tilton, Alexandra Barner, Assistant Professor Tim Thorpe, Emily Fuller and Joy Henderson attend the 2015 Phi Beta Lambda State Leadership Conference at Fort Hays State University on February 13, 2015. Photo courtesy of Alexandra Barner.