DSU PBL students compete at State Leadership Conference

Sixteen Dakota State University Phi Beta Lambda Business Club members recently took home nine first place honors at the 2002 Spring State Leadership Conference in Pierre.

DSU PBL students competed against over 100 other students (eight other chapters) from colleges and universities throughout the state.

“I would not have believed it possible to top last year’s success, but they did it,” Dan Talley, PBL co-advisor said. “And next year South Dakota PBL will come to depend on the leadership, experience, and dedication of our students like never before in my tenure as advisor.”

DSU students took standardized tests in academic areas (business principles, business law, management, economics, accounting, computer applications, computer concepts, information management, telecommunications, among others) and also competed in the presentation of a Community Service Project (discussing PBL’s logistical and organizational support of Madison’s “Day with Santa” event.) Local officials and professionals in Pierre judged these events.

As well as taking home the nine first place honors, DSU also took home three 2^nd place and five 3^rd place honors in competition with other chapters. DSU swept the Marketing, Word Processing and Telecommunications competitions and placed 1^st and 3^rd in Information Management and Hospitality Management.

Eleven students placed in the top three in at least one individual event and earned the right to compete at the National Conference in Nashville, TN, this summer.

The DSU chapter had entries in four team/chapter events and won top honors in each (one 1^st place and three 2^nd place awards), qualifying an officer for the National Conference. A total of twelve students will compete at nationals.

“I would point out the wide range of subjects in which our students competed and the success enjoyed by students in our major programs,” Talley said. “The success of our students in these information systems, business, and technology skill areas reaffirms our success in the pursuit of the DSU mission.”

Jessica Fritzsche stepped down as State Reporter and will now serve as State President. Tracy Steed stepped down as State Treasurer and will now serve as State Vice-President, one of two vice-president slots.

“This is the first time in the history of the Chapter that both the State President and Vice-President will come from DSU. DSU will have an unprecedented opportunity to assert excellent leadership and help guide the State PBL organization to a highly successful year next year,” Talley said. “We have high expectations for these creative and energetic individuals and we are confident they will represent the DSU chapter and the state especially well this year.”

Those who attended the conference were: Jessica Fritzsche, a junior from Wessington majoring in Management; Tracy Steed, a senior marketing and management major from Roseville, CA; Carissa Persoon, a junior finance major from Tyler, MN; April Fernau, a junior marketing major from Madison, Stacey Sherburne, a Management Information Systems major from Kadoka; Kerry Terwilliger, a senior marketing and management major from Winfred; Greg Michael, a junior accounting major from Spring Valley, IL; Jennie Patrick, a sophomore business management major from White; Renae Ranschau, a sophomore finance major from Ellsworth, MN; Sami Kangas, a sophomore finance major from Watertown; Nicky Volin, a senior finance major from Sioux Falls; Kevin Deilke, a senior and double major in Information Systems and Office Administration from Aberdeen; Aaron Rush, a sophomore e-commerce major from Bowman, ND; Janita Rawden, a sophomore Marketing major from Aberdeen; Greg Weinacht, a junior information systems major from Dell Rapids; and Jake Gappa a freshman management major from Nicollet, MN.

“All of the participants deserve a special commendation for their superb representation of Dakota State University at this conference,” Talley said. Their positive attitude and support of each other made the conference successful and fun for everyone. And moreover, the DSU chapter has now made a profound commitment to the future leadership of the state PBL organization.”

Those receiving awards:

Nicky Volin                  1^st place in Finance
                                    1^st place in Business Management
                                    1^st place in International Business
                                    3^rd place in Human Resource Management
                                    Volin placed in every event he entered.

Jessica Fritzsche           Elected South Dakota PBL State President
                        1^st place in Desktop Publishing (Team event with Tracy Steed)
                        Who’s Who in SD PBL Recognition

Tracy Steed                  Elected South Dakota PBL (First) Vice-President
                                    1^nd place in Marketing
                                    1^st place in Desktop Publishing (Team event with Jessica Fritzsche)
                                    2^nd place in Local Chapter Annual Business Report (Chapter event)
                                    Who’s Who in SD PBL Recognition

Kerry Terwilliger          1^st place in Information Management
                                    1^st place in Hospitality Management
                                    2^nd place in Community Service Project (Team event with Sherburne)

Aaron Rush 1^st place in Networking Concepts
1^st place in Telecommunications

Jennie Patrick 1^st place in Word Processing

Stacey Sherburne 2^nd place in Community Service Project (Team event with Terwilliger)
3^rd place in Information Management

Greg Michael 2^nd place in Telecommunications
3^rd place in Quantitative Methods

April Fernau 2^nd place in Marketing

Renae Ranschau 2^nd place in Word Processing

Carissa Persoon 2^nd place in Chapter Scrapbook Competition

Kevin Deilke 3^rd place in Networking Concepts
3^rd place in Hospitality Management

“Jessica and Tracey’s leadership and support on the executive committee and the amazing success of DSU students in competition with some of the best students from schools across the state will stand as examples of the opportunities for leadership and academic excellence available to students at Dakota State University,” added Talley.