New organization provides hands on practice to theories
Monday, September 12, 2011
Flint Hills Technical College is switching from the Business Professionals of America to the Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) organization in order to provide practical application of the theories taught in the Business Administration Technology, Computer Program Design and Network Technology programs.
Phi Beta Lambda is the post-secondary version of the Future Business Leaders Association. The 21 FHTC students involved in the new co-curricular group will participate in various activities, projects and national competitions that will provide hands-on experience. Phi Beta Lambda also provides students with the opportunity to make contacts at the local, state, national and international levels.
“We noticed that Phi Beta Lambda offered the same opportunities to students in regards to leadership skills, community service and competitive events, but Phi Beta Lambda is focused strictly on post-secondary,” said BAT instructor and advisor Julie Cooper. “BPA was middle school level, high school level and post secondary kind of all together. We wanted something that was more age appropriate and content appropriate for our students to be able to participate in.”
“It’s actually taking what we’re teaching the students and putting it to use,” said Kim Dhority, BAT instructor and advisor. “That way they can say ‘Okay, now I see why we’re doing this.’”
In the PBL Career and Membership Achievement Program students focus on three areas; crest, service and progress. Schools can win awards at various levels and in various events.
For the competitive events there are several categories that involve either public speaking or objective testing. The top two places in speaking events and in objective tests advance to the national competition.
Three awards are also given to PBL members who meet overall goals. FHTC will compete against all levels of post-secondary education, including four-year universities, two-year community colleges and technical colleges.
The Director Award is given to PBL members who focus on community service, career research and PBL involvement at the local level. Executive Awards are given to PBL members for developing job interview skills, state and national PBL involvement, public relations activities and leadership skills. In order to obtain an Executive Award PBL members must win a Directors Award.
The President Award is awarded based on total association leadership, business skills, and community involvement. Prerequisites are the Director and Executive Awards.
Newly elected FHTC PBL president, Paola freshman Jesse Goodeyon, has started organizing the new co-curricular program. FHTC sent off the paperwork to join PBL last week and expect to meet to discuss further development. The new FHTC organization has already started organizing a community service project and are working on promotion. Other officers include Sarah Risner (Vice-President), Rudy Christopher (Treasurer), Yoleany Tellez (Secretary), Ashley Lundbloom (Historian) and Christopher Simmons (Editor).
The first state event that FHTC PBL will attend will be held at Camp Alexander. The state fall leadership conference will be Oct. 8. The Emporia State University chapter is organizing the conference.
Goodeyon is looking forward to participating in the FHTC PBL because it will give him real-world experiences and contacts early in his post-secondary education.
“You’re not just learning something in the classroom wondering what to do with it,” said Goodeyon. “I’m actually taking from both (theory and practical application) and combining them together. On the outside stuff I’m doing with the club, I’m using the stuff in the classroom to reinforce both.”
bharz (anonymous) says...
Mrs. Dhority will provide the same excellent leadership to this organization and FHTC that she provided at Northern Heights and their FBLA chapter.
September 12, 2011 at 4:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )