Students from the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s School of Business brought home multiple awards at the Arkansas Future Business Leaders of America Collegiate State Leadership Conference held March 12 at South Arkansas College in El Dorado.
Three UAM students combined to win four awards in a variety of business-related competitions.
Victoria O’Neill Rivera, a sophomore business administration major with an emphasis in marketing from Warren, earned first place in both Public Speaking and Digital Design and Communications.
Jordan Wehr, a senior business administration major with an emphasis in marketing from Frisco, Texas, placed second in Sports Management and Marketing.
Maddie Welch, a senior business administration major with an emphasis in marketing from Star City, captured first place in Foundations of Marketing. Welch credited her coursework at UAM for helping prepare her for the competition.
“Everything I saw on the test, I learned in classes I took at UAM,” Welch said.
The FBLA Collegiate State Leadership Conference features competitions designed to test students’ knowledge and skills in business-related fields. Winners at the state level qualify for the FBLA Collegiate National Leadership Conference, scheduled for June 6-8 in Las Vegas.
Rivera is expected to represent UAM at the national competition.
“Our students represented UAM with excellence,” said Dr. Shanna Knowles, assistant professor of management and faculty co-sponsor of the FBLA Collegiate Club. “These awards reflect the hard work, curiosity and commitment our students bring to learning, and it’s an honor to watch them shine on a statewide stage.”
Dr. Marsha Clayton, dean of the School of Business, said the recognition continues a trend of strong performances by UAM students.
“For several years, our students have excelled as representatives of UAM at the Arkansas FBLA Collegiate State Leadership Conference, and this year was no exception,” Clayton said. “We are proud of the leadership exhibited by the UAM FBLA chapter and their competitive spirit.”
University officials said participation in FBLA and similar organizations provides students opportunities to expand their education beyond the classroom while developing professional skills.
For more information about FBLA at UAM, contact the School of Business at 870-460-1041.
