(St. George, UT) - Seven Dixie State College of Utah business students took top honors at the annual Utah State PBL Leadership Conference held earlier month in Layton. Those 11 students, along with two other runner-up finishers, earned the right to advance and compete at the 2012 PBL National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas, this upcoming June 24-27. In addition, DSC’s PBL Chapter won the state’s “Traveling Trophy” as Utah’s Outstanding PBL Chapter.

According to DSC PBL adviser and business adjunct faculty member Kent Brown, students were judged primarily on their ability to analyze and come up with impromptu solutions to case studies. Additionally there were several events that are strictly test based. The competition consists of over 40 different categories, and in order to qualify for nationals, students had to place in at least the top two of their respective categories (top three for a test) at the state level.

"This was the best showing ever for Dixie State’s PBL Chapter,” said Brown, who also won the state PBL Adviser of the Year Award. “Being awarded the Outstanding Chapter in the state was the first time ever for Dixie, and I’m proud of all the hard work each of the students put forth in competing.”

The seven DSC students combined to take first place in 10 events, highlighted by senior James Rutledge (Kearns, Utah), who placed first in five different categories, including Accounting Analysis & Decision Making; Accounting for Professionals; Contemporary Sports Issues; Financial Analysis & Decision Making; and Financial Services. Senior Cody Olsen (West Jordan, Utah) was also a multiple winner as he took home two top honors in Help Desk and Networking Concepts, then teamed with sophomore Chris LeBaron (Hurricane, Utah) and freshman Charity Baumann (Hurricane, Utah) for first place in Website Design. Baumann also teamed with fellow freshman Lexi Crow (Sandy, Utah) to win the in Digital Video Production competition. Rounding out the first-place awards was the tandem of senior Brody Mikesell (Henefer, Utah) and junior Sami Warnick (Wanship, Utah) in Hospitality Management.

Earning runner-up recognition was the tandem of Olsen, LeBaron and junior Bryan Poulsen (Hurricane, Utah) in Network Design, while Olsen also took second place in Computer Concepts and Cyber Security. Junior Tyler Reber (Santa Clara, Utah) teamed with junior Brock Walker (Santa Clara, Utah) and freshman Lindsay Hardesty (St. George, Utah) for a runner-up showing in Business Decision Making, while Reber took second in Digital Video Production, and the team of Crow and Brock Walker combined for a second place finish in Human Resource Management.

In addition to winning the all-around title as Outstanding Chapter, Dixie State’s PBL Chapter placed in the top three in the following events: Checks for Success – Program of Work, Community Service Project; Local Chapter Annual Business Report; and Gold Seal Award.

Two DSC students were also elected to state office for the upcoming 2012-13 year. Bryan Poulsen was re-elected as State Webmaster and Brock Walker was elected as State Treasurer. Poulsen was also tabbed to campaign at the National Leadership Conference to fill the Vice President position for the Western Region.

Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) education association with a quarter million students preparing for careers in business and business-related fields.