VGCC students compete at national Phi Beta Lambda conference


From left, VGCC Phi Beta Lambda members Jody Hastings and John Pendergrass, chapter advisor LaTonya Steele, and members Lonnie Brame and Virtuous Harris, seen here at the PBL National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida holding trophies the chapter and the individual students had won.

Members of the Vance-Granville Community College “Chi Beta Chi” chapter of the Phi Beta Lambda business student organization recently attended PBL’s 2011 National Leadership Conference. Students from universities and colleges across the country participated in various competitions and attended workshops at the conference, held June 23-26 in Orlando, Florida.

For the second consecutive year, the VGCC chapter was recognized with a First-Place trophy for having the most Professional Division members (established business professionals and educators) of any local chapter in the nation.

The team of VGCC students John Pendergrass of Henderson and Jody Hastings of Townsville placed second in the Small Business Management Plan competition. Meanwhile, the duo of Lonnie Brame and Virtuous Harris, both of Henderson, placed ninth in the Business Presentation category.

In addition to those students, PBL members Lisa Maida of Rougemont, Diane Power, Tina Ragland and Shelonda White, all of Oxford, Nicholas Hardee and Sheri Moss, both of Henderson, and Ruthie Davis and Ashley Buhls, both of Warrenton, had also qualified for competitive events at the national PBL conference due to their high scores at the state-level conference, which was held in April.

“Once again, our Phi Beta Lambda students and their advisor, LaTonya Steele, have made us proud and represented Vance-Granville very well on the national level,” said VGCC Dean of Business and Applied Technologies Bobby Van Brunt. Steele’s co-advisors are Carl Hann, Jr., who heads VGCC’s Business Administration, Accounting and Entrepreneurship programs, and Director of Logistics Technology Walter Martin.

Phi Beta Lambda is the national organization for college students who are preparing for a variety of careers in business. The Greek letters stand for the English words “Future Business Leaders,” and PBL is affiliated with the Future Business Leaders of America, an organization for high school students. The largest business career student organization in the world, FBLA/PBL seeks to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs. For more information, call VGCC chapter advisor and Business Administration instructor LaTonya Steele at (252) 738-3447.