From Staff Reports

ATLANTA — Five South Georgia Technical College Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) students captured first-place awards and earned the right to represent the college at the Phi Beta Lambda National Conference in Anaheim California in June. The five first-place winners and their areas of competition were: Racarda Blackmon of Americus, Information Management and Network Design; Kia Blackmon-Mable of Americus, Emerging Business Issues and Future Business Educator; Branyon Kendrick of Montezuma, Integrated Marketing Campaign; Matthew Kent of Montezuma, Justice Administration and Organizational Behavior and Leadership; and Christian Powell of Cordele, Computer Concepts.
South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) Phi Beta Lambda students from both the Americus and the Crisp County Center campuses brought home a total of 40 awards and recognitions at the state competition held in Atlanta recently. Only the first-place winners will be representing the college at the national competition in Anaheim, California. In addition to the five first-place winners, SGTC had six second-place winners. They were Dakota Hall of Cordele, Networking Concepts; Christopher McGee of Cordele, Sales Presentation; MyKaula Harvey of Cordele, Administration Technology and Battle of the Chapters; DW Persall of Cordele, Battle of the Chapters; Ashley Halstead of Ellaville, Business Law; Kimberly Jackson of Americus, Business Ethics; Jesseca McCook of Leslie, Small Business Management; Shannon Stewart of Americus, Business Sustainability; and Curtis Walton of Americus, Network Design.
The third-place finishers included: La’Keista Davis of Americus, Business Ethics; Alicia English of Americus, Desktop Publishing; Crystal McCoy of Americus, Justice Administration; and Tonekita Rogers of Cordele, Administrative Technology. Fourth-place winners were Christian Powell, Networking Concepts; Christopher McGee, Client Services; D.W. Persall, Business Communication; Jordan Smith of Cordele, Marketing Concepts; Dravian McGill of Cordele, Justice Administration; Andrea Burton Willis of Americus, Information Management; and Alicia English, Management Analysis and Decision-Making.
Ashley Halstead, Microeconomics; Jesseca McCook, Management Analysis and Decision-Making; Fierra Riley of Americus, Information Management and Statistical Analysis; Shannon Stewart, Project Management; Curtis Walton, Networking Concepts; Jaleun Willis of Albany, Impromptu Speaking; and Jordan Smith, Retail Management all captured fifth-place finishes.
Americus campus chapter PBL Advisor Andrea Oates, Ed.D., was selected as the 2017 Advisor of the Year and received a five-year service award. Karen Bloodworth and Teresa Jolly were recognized for five years of exceptional service to Georgia Phi Beta Lambda as advisors for the Cordele Chapter. Racarda Blackmon, Kia Blackmon-Mable, Fierra Riley and MyKaula Harvey achieved the Director level of The Career, Membership and Achievement Program and were recognized at the state conference. Racarda Blackmon completed the Executive level and DW Persall completed the President’s level. Racarda Blackmon was also named Who’s Who Among PBL.
First-place awards for the Americus PBL chapter include Community Service Project; Interaction with FBLA; Corporate Sponsorships; and Largest Local Chapter Membership. The chapter also received second place in Local Chapter Annual Business Report and third place in March of Dimes and Foundation Scholarships. The Americus Campus Chapter also achieved the Platinum Seal award, which highlights the completion of 40 criteria that represent the highest level of achievement in the Seal Award program that also includes blue, bronze, silver, and gold levels.