Virginia State University Business Students Win Prestigious Statewide Awards
On Saturday, April 7, 2018, fourteen students from Virginia State University’s Reginald F. Lewis College of Business (VSU-RFLCB) participated in the Virginia Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) State Leadership Conference and Business Competitions in Richmond, VA.
First Row (Left to Right) Jean Cain, Jasmine Johnson, Ciara Rawls, Brandon Green, Essence Bridges, Stephanie Osafo, Jennifer Williams
Second Row (Left to Right) Barry Brown, Jasmine Davis, Robert Harper
Third Row (Left to Right) Jeremy Stokes, Imani Groce, Justin Camp, Dominique Pinder
Photo submitted by VSU
FBLA-PBL is the largest career student business organization in the world with more than 230,000 members. The organization seeks to inspire and prepare students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.
The VSU-RFLCB team competed against teams from the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Longwood University, James Madison University, Randolph Macon College, George Mason University, University of Richmond, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, John Tyler Community College, New River Community College, Germanna Community College and Southside Virginia Community College.
All of VSU’s students who placed in second place or higher in at least one of their competitions will compete in the 2018 National Leadership Conference which will be held in Baltimore, Maryland from June 23 to June 26, 2018.
“It was an extreme pleasure to coach fourteen of Virginia State University’s great minds through the first steps of this competition, said Dr. Aurelia Donald, who served as the co-advisor for the team. “This competition afforded our students the opportunity to develop the skills that they need for leadership and to refine their competitive business skills outside of a classroom setting.”
VSU placed 1st in five competitions, 2nd in seven competitions and 3rd in one competition. The results were as follows:
1st Place
Accounting Analysis & Decision-Making
Jasmine Davis, Jasmine Johnson and Stephanie Osafo
Business Law
Brandon Green, Robert Harper and Dominique Pinder
Business Sustainability
Justin Camp, Jennifer Williams and Jeremy Stokes
Impromptu Speaking
Essence Bridges
Integrated Marketing Campaign
Dominique Pinder
2nd Place
Accounting Principles
Jasmine Davis
Financial Analysis & Decision-Making
Imani Groce and Ciara Rawls
Financial Services
Imani Groce and Ciara Rawls
Management Analysis & Decision-Making
Jean Cain and Barry Brown
Public Speaking
Essence Bridges
Strategic Analysis & Decision-Making
Justin Camp, Jennifer Williams and Jeremy Stokes
Website Design
Brandon Green and Robert Harper
3rd Place
Business Ethics
Jean Cain and Barry Brown
The VSU chapter also received a Spotlight Award and achieved Bronze Member Status for chapter membership growth and chapter contributions to the Virginia FBLA-PBL Foundation for the 2017-2018 academic year. In addition, Trojan Essence Bridges was elected to FBLA-PBL statewide office as the vice president for Student and Alumni Engagement.
The VSU team is co-advised by Dr. Donald (Computer Information Systems) and Professor Louis Dabney (Management & Marketing). Dr. Yun Lee, Dr. Mark Kunze, Professor Alex Weimer (Management & Marketing); Professors Sara Reese and Steve Holeman, Jr. (Accounting & Finance); and Ms. Morris (Mass Communications) provided additional coaching support.
