PBL Members Among Top Finishers at National Conference

Three members of Pennsylvania College of Technology's Phi Beta Lambda chapter and a faculty adviser attended the 2007 National Leadership Conference in Chicago from June 20-27. Two of the students gained high honors in the Awards of Excellence program held June 26.

Matthew P. Bower, of Jersey Shore, working toward a bachelor's degree in information technology: IT security specialist concentration, placed first nationally in Visual Basic Programming and sixth in Database Design and Applications. Jason S. Aloise, of New Hope, enrolled in the information technology: network specialist bachelor-degree concentration, placed sixth nationally in Computer Applications.

"We are very proud of the work that we have done to get to the national conference and I am especially proud of Matthew and all the work that he has put into his testing." said Aloise, president of Penn College PBL. "Matthew showed off his true skills and his education that he has attained from Penn College by truly being one of the best in the nation in his Visual Basic test."

PBL is the postsecondary division of the Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda Inc., a national nonprofit educational association of students preparing for careers in business or related fields. FBLA-PBL is a national organization comprised of nearly a quarter of a million students, faculty, staff, and professional members from middle school, high school, college and universities nationwide.

Also in attendance was Jason M. Rossi, Hunlock Creek, who graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in graphic communications management. The students were accompanied by Anita R. Girton, assistant professor of computer information technology, who served as their adviser on the trip.

"Once again, our students have demonstrated that they can compete successfully at the state and the national level," remarked Edward A. Henninger, dean of business and computer technologies. "Matthew's and Jason's results are a testament to their dedication and hard work and to the applied and practical nature of their IT education at Penn College."

Students won the right to compete at the national conference based on their first- and second-place finishes during April's state competition in Harrisburg.

The Awards of Excellence program is available on the Web.

For more information about Penn College PBL, please contact Aloise or visitonline.