SGTC’s Phi Beta Lambda Organization Finds Success at State Competition, Earns Spots in Nationals

June 6, 2018
A group of seven individuals pose for a photo together. Three females sit on a bench in front of two males and two more females.,
SGTC Phi Beta Lambda advisors Donna Lawrence (standing, second from left) and Dr. Andrea Oates (standing, second from right) stand with five of the six competitors from the Georgia PBL State Competitions. Standing left to right: Joseph Hawkins, Donna Lawrence, Andrea Oates and Jurrius Cladd. Seated left to right: Shantelle Brito, Alicia English and Andrea Burton-Jackson. Christopher Lewis is not pictured.

South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) is set to send members of the Americus campus’ Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) student organization to Baltimore, Maryland to compete in the organization’s National Conference at the end of June. The students, Alicia English of Americus and Andrea Burton-Jackson of Americus, earned the right to compete after bringing home first place awards from the Georgia PBL State Competitions held recently in Atlanta.

Collectively, the organization brought home 21 different awards and recognitions from the state competition.

Six of the organization’s members competed in the state competition events, bringing home four first place awards, two second place awards, three third place awards, one fourth place award and 11 other awards and recognitions. Competitors included Shantelle Brito, Andrea Burton-Jackson, Jarrius Cladd, Alicia English, Joseph Hawkins and Christopher Lewis. PBL advisors include Dr. Andrea Oates and Donna Lawrence.

First place awards included the Community Service Project award, awarded to the team of Burton-Jackson and English; Emerging Business Issues, awarded to English; Future Business Educator, awarded to Burton-Jackson; and the FBLA Interaction award, which was awarded to the entire SGTC PBL chapter.

Second place awards were won in the Information Management and Integrated Marketing Campaign categories by Burton-Jackson and Lewis, respectively.

Third place awards were awarded to Hawkins for his work in the Business Communication category, Lewis for his work in the Business Law category and to the entire chapter for their joint work on the Local Chapter Annual Business Report. Jurrius Cladd closed out the top place awards with fourth-place finish in the Computer Concepts category.

The 11 other awards and recognitions included the Platinum Seal Award of Merit (SGTC PBL), 20 Years of Service (Donna Lawrence), $250 PBL Foundation Scholarship (Yaneli Hernandez), Businessperson of the Year (Donna Whitt – SGTC PBL nominee), Who’s Who in PBL (Alicia English), CMAP President Award (Andrea Burton-Jackson), CMAP Executive Award (Andrea Burton-Jackson), CMAP Director Award (Alicia English), CMAP Director Award (Joseph Hawkins), Battle of the Chapters Top Ten (SGTC PBL) and the Largest Local Chapter (SGTC PBL).

Because of their first-place finishes, English and Burton-Jackson will compete in two competitive events a piece (four events total) and will be competing for a national title when they travel to Baltimore later this month. Burton-Jackson will also be recognized during a pinning ceremony at the conference for accomplishing the President Level of Career and Membership Achievement Program (CMAP). The entire chapter will also be awarded with the “Outstanding Chapter” award at the national conference.

For more information about the Phi Beta Lambda student organization, contact PBL advisor Dr. Andrea Oates at aoates@southgatech.edu or at 229-931-2705.