OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University student Ryan Holt took first in the nation in statistical analysis at the Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) National Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tenn., earlier this summer.
Holt was one of 12 Weber State University students who placed in the top 10 nationally in their respective categories at the PBL competition held July 8-13. Eight of the 12 students finished in the top 10 in both categories in which they competed, including Holt, who placed fifth nationally in microeconomics.
The trio of Samantha Casey, Michael Dunkley and Devin Hadley took second nationally in the business ethics category. Casey and Dunkley teamed up to take seventh in desktop publishing as well.
PBL sponsors a competitive events program each year. Students, state teams and local chapters earn the right to compete at the national event by placing first or second at the state level in more than 50 different event categories representing the organization’s focus on business and leadership development.
The national winners were selected from among PBL’s membership of 250,000 students and advisers.
Al Talbot, adviser of WSU’s PBL chapter, said 20 WSU students placed first or second at the Utah competition held this spring. Fifteen of those students were able to travel to Nashville.
“The national competition is a way to validate our curriculum and for the students to compare their knowledge with their peers around the country,” Talbot said. “The students who placed in the top 10 in an event are made very aware that the education they receive at Weber State University has prepared them well.”
Brittany Stephens and Emily Talbot, residents of Ogden, serve as co-presidents of the WSU PBL chapter. Both placed in the top 10 nationally in their respective competitions in Nashville, the third time each has placed in the top 10 at nationals. Stephens is a senior pursuing a degree in child and family studies. Talbot, who graduated in May with a degree in history composite teaching, also has served as secretary and as president in the PBL State of Utah Chapter.
Holt, a quantitative economics major from West Haven, Utah, is in his senior year in the Goddard School of Business & Economics.
Casey, a sophomore from Layton, Utah, is pursuing a degree in visual arts. Dunkley is a senior from Hooper, Utah, working toward a degree in business education composite teaching. Sophomore Hadley is a general studies major who resides in Ogden.
Phi Beta Lambda, the collegiate arm of Future Business Leaders of America, is a non-profit education association of students preparing for careers in business and business-related fields. To be a member of WSU’s PBL chapter, students must have taken at least one business education course.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
WSU 2010 Phi Beta Lambda National Winners
| Business Ethics | 2nd | Samantha Casey Michael Dunkley Devin Hadley |
| Business Presentations | 10th | Emily Talbot Brittany Stephens |
| Database Design and Applications | 9th | Akhapone(A.J.) Singta |
| Desktop Publishing | 7th | Michael Dunkley Samantha Casey |
| Economics | 4th | Kimberly Robinson |
| Future Business Teacher | 5th | Caleb Hicks |
| Financial Concepts | 4th | Kenneth Lawrence |
| Hospitality Management | 4th | Chad Bowles and Caleb Hicks |
| Impromptu Speaking | 6th | Emily Talbot |
| Macroeconomics | 8th | Kimberly Robinson |
| Macroeconomics | 4th | Kenneth Lawrence |
| Microeconomics | 5th | Ryan Holt |
| Network Design | 5th | Russell Cuddeback Akhapone(A.J.) Singta |
| Statistical Analysis | 1st | Ryan Holt |
- Contact:
- Alden Talbot, PBL adviser
801-626-6060 • atalbot@weber.edu - John Kowalewski, director of Media Relations
801-626-7212 • jkowalewski@weber.edu