Phi Beta Lambda Students Bring Home 22 National Awards
JONESBORO – Thirty-six members of the Arkansas State University chapter of Phi Beta Lambda, the collegiate version of the Future Business Leaders of America, returned from the Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas, with a total of 22 national awards, including two national championships. In addition, for the second consecutive year, the A-State chapter received the award for the largest chapter in the nation with 285 members.
Armaan Dharani, an accounting major from Jonesboro, won first place in the nation in accounting principles and fourth in accounting for professionals. Jordan Womack, an economics major from Mountain Home, and Alex Young, a management major from Jonesboro, grabbed first place finishes nationally in business presentation. Young also finished sixth in management principles.
This marks the A-State chapter’s eighth and ninth national championships since the chapter was reactivated in 2008. It is also the third year in a row that A-State won more awards than any other school in the country.
“Since the chapter was reactivated, the A-State chapter has excelled in both academic and leadership areas,” said Dr. Philip Tew, associate professor of finance and co-adviser for the PBL chapter at A-State, along with Dr. Patricia Robertson, chair, Department of Economics and Finance, and professor of law, and Kerry Tew, first-year student success coordinator for the Neil Griffin College of Business. Accompanying the trio was Sheena Gammon, instructor of business administration.
“There have been 96 national awards won by A-State students and multiple state and national leadership positions occupied by our students.”
The group of 36 advanced to the national conference after competing in the state PBL leadership conference at North Little Rock in May. Arkansas State won 54 awards overall in the state competition.
“For the 2019-20 year alone, the state of Arkansas Phi Beta Lambda leadership team will consist of six of the seven total officer positions from A-State. This is a testament to our students and the support we have received from the Neil Griffin College of Business, the university, and alumni who have given their time and money to support these exceptional students.”
The officers include Rachel Washam (president), Ben Tinsley (treasurer), Brenna Cannon (parliamentarian), and Melanie Ricker (director of social media), who are current A-State students, while Meghan Cantara (director of state programs) and Jessica Rucker (director of marketing) are transferring from A-State after completing their associate degrees from ASU-Newport in May.
Other winners include:
Ben Tinsley, an accounting major from Jonesboro, won sixth for accounting for professionals, and second for financial concepts.
Thomas Hamaker, a 2019 graduate with a degree in finance from Hampton, finished third for financial analysis and decision making and fourth for future business executive.
Kasey Williams, a finance and accounting double major from Clinton, was fifth in emerging business issues.
Worthie Springer, a psychology major from Little Rock, finished 10th in impromptu speaking.
Ellie Mayberry, a business technology major from Hensley, was seventh in information management.
Barbara Martin, a hospitality management major from Jonesboro, came in third in management concepts.
Mariah Odom, an accounting major from Marion, was 10th in marketing concepts.
Justin Dent, an economics and philosophy double major from Jonesboro, won ninth in microeconomics.
Jared Barham, an accounting major from Paragould, won fourth in microeconomics.
Nauman Jiwani, an engineering major from Jonesboro, won fourth place in programming concepts.
Clayton Liddell of Paragould, a 2019 graduate with a degree in computer science, was third in programming concepts.
Rachel Washam of Jonesboro, a 2019 graduate with a degree in finance, and Alicia Warner, an international business major from Sulphur Rock, finished 10th in business sustainability. In addition, Washam, Warner, Dustin Ogden, a mathematics major from Manila, Bailey Dunn, a marketing major from Marked Tree, and Brenna Cannon, an agricultural business major from Mountain Home, came in seventh in parliamentary procedure. Cannon also finished eighth in social media campaign.
Ahad Sanjrani, a computer and information technology major from Dallas, Jared Barham, an accounting major from Paragould, and Matthew Collins, an accounting major from Marion, were fifth in economic analysis and decision making.
Also, Melanie Ricker, an accounting and finance double major from Corning, and Washam received Phi Beta Lambda national leadership conference scholarships. Washam also received recognition for her tenure as Arkansas PBL president.
Dr. Robertson was recognized for her work as Arkansas adviser of the year.
