WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., May 2, 2017 — West Liberty University student Hayden Blazer was reelected president of the West Virginia chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) recently at its annual conference. A rising senior in the Gary E. West College of Business, this is his third consecutive year as president.
“I’m pleased to receive the support of the members and have this chance to continue to serve other students working and building their career,” Blazer said. He was elected to office by delegates from each West Virginia college chapter at the West Virginia conference.
Blazer is from Glen Dale, W.Va., with a double major in accounting and finance. After graduation, he plans to become a certified public accountant.
Blazer also is responsible for starting the WLU chapter of Phi Beta Lambda, the world’s largest business student organization, which is the inaugural university chapter in the state of West Virginia.
There are now eight chapters and Blazer is pleased to report a 134 percent growth in membership throughout the state during the 2016 – 2017 academic year.
Besides the election of officers, the conference offered academic competitions for individuals as well as small groups. Winners will advance to participate in the national finals in Anaheim, Ca. this June. WLU students who advanced, their hometowns and the category of achievement include:
Accounting Analysis and Decision Making (Team)
- 2nd Place – Jack Kilgore, Washington, Pa. (1 person team)
Accounting for Professionals
- 1st Place – Ashley Stewart, St. Clairsville, Ohio
- 3rd Place – Drew Bidwell, Paden City, W.Va.
Cost Accounting
- 3rd Place – Hayden Blazer, Glen Dale, W.Va.
Financial Concepts
- 1st Place – Brandon Galici, Parkersburg, W.Va.
Financial Services
- 1st Place – Jack Kilgore, Washington, Pa.
Forensic Accounting (Team)
- 1st Place – Hayden Blazer and Ashley Stewart
Marketing Concepts
- 2nd Place – Sarah Jones, Wheeling
Microeconomics
- 1st Place – Robert Kettlewell, Wheeling
Personal Finance
- 1st Place – Brandon Galici, Parkersburg, W.Va.
Project Management
- 2nd Place – Robert Kettlewell, Wheeling
Sports Management and Marketing
- 1st Place – Jared Starr, Bellaire, Ohio
Statistical Analysis
- 3rd Place – Sarah Jones
Also attending the conference was WLU business major Ashley Cole of Wheeling and faculty advisor Michael Blackwell.
Next up is the national leadership competition in Anaheim, Ca., June 24 – 28. Blazer and the other business students are looking forward to the chance to network, demonstrate their skills and bring home more honors for the College of Business.
The FBLA-PBL is the largest and oldest business student organization in the world, according to its website.
A quarter of a million high school and middle school students, college and university students, faculty, educators, administrators, and business professionals have chosen to be members of the association which seeks to prepare students for careers in business.
For more information on WLU or its College of Business, please visit westliberty.edu or call 1-866-WESTLIB.