POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — College of the Ozarks students competed in the Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) virtual state conference on Saturday, April 10, to showcase practical business skills. Of the 14 students that competed from College of the Ozarks, 12 placed in the top four of their respective events, and 11 qualified to compete in the virtual PBL National Leadership Conference.

Students competed in various events with college students across the state. Events are a combination of online tests, production tests, interviews, and presentations.

“We had a great showing at the state competition,” said College of the Ozarks PBL Advisor Lana Fowler, associate professor of business. “The business department is very proud of the hard work our students put into their education.”

Following are the students that placed in each event:

• Abigail Braden, senior from Saddlebrook, Missouri
  • Second place, information management
• Grace Carr, senior from Hollister, Missouri
  • First Place, future business executive
  • Second place, administrative support technology
  • Second place, cost accounting
• Brian Casey, sophomore from Forrest City, Arkansas
  • Third place, computer concepts
  • Third place, financial concepts
• Garrott Clark, senior from Jackson, Missouri
  • First place, accounting analysis and decision making
  • Second place, management analysis and decision making
  • Third place, accounting principles
• Lindsay Hemann, senior from Osage, Iowa
  • First place, marketing analysis and decision making
  • Second place, statistical analysis
• Ben Lunsford, senior from Harrison, Arkansas
  • Second place, organizational behavior and leadership,
  • Second place, management analysis and decision making
• Tanner Maasen, senior from Freebury, Missouri
  • Second place, management analysis and decision making
• Aleiha Mitchell, junior from Harrah, Oklahoma
  • Second place, job interview
• Jamison Ogburn, senior from Nevada, Missouri
  • First place, accounting principles
  • First place, cost accounting
  • First place, financial analysis and decision making
• Gabe Rader, sophomore from Louisburg, Kansas
  • First place, marketing analysis and decision making
  • Fourth place, management concepts
• Javy Rosas, junior from Gainesville, Missouri
  • Fourth place, accounting principles
• Kyle Stevens, senior from Minneola, Kansas
  • First place, small business management plan
  • First place, impromptu speaking

“Our students did a fantastic job in their competitions,” said Lindsay Hemann, chapter president. “Everyone’s hard work really paid off!”

Last year, PBL state and national competition moved to a virtual platform due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight students competed and placed top 10 at state, and three placed top 10 at nationals.

In previous years, College of the Ozarks has had the largest PBL chapter in Missouri and qualified several students for national competition. In 2019, 26 students participated at the state level, 14 qualifying for nationals. Of the 14 national qualifiers, 12 students placed top 10 in the nation in their competitive events.