Chestnut Hill College Brings Home National Finalists From Phi Beta Lambda Leadership Conference

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Six Chestnut Hill College Students became finalists in events at the 2009 National Phi Beta Lambda Leadership Conference, competing against more than 1,776 students from 46 states and 300 colleges to earn the honor. The following Chestnut Hill students received awards in five events at the national competition, held June 20-23 in Anaheim, California:

First Place in Desktop Application Programming - Ryan Donahue
Fifth Place in Human Resource Management - Leslie Zemnick and Michael O'Hara
Fifth Place in Web Site Development - Ryan Donahue
Seventh Place in Management Analysis & Decision Making - Daniel Washington and Megan Smith
National Finalist in Public Speaking - Richard Abram

Nine Chestnut Hill College Phi Beta Lambda members who were winners at the Phi Beta Lambda Leadership Conference that took place in Harrisburg, Pa. in April traveled to compete in the national competition, which included almost 50 group and individual events. Of the 11 institutions and 60 students that competed from Pennsylvania, Chestnut Hill College won the second highest number of awards at the national competition.

Ryan Donahue, a senior computer and information science major, won first place in Desktop Application Programming, which is the first time a Chestnut Hill College student has placed first in an event at the national level. In addition, Donahue took fifth place in the Web site Development competition. "My goal for the club this year was to place in the top three for the first time in one event and also to finish in the finals for one new event, says Robert Durney, M.B.A, M.E., P.M.P., club advisor and assistant professor of business. “I am proud of our team winning the top spot in the nation for Desktop Application Programming and fifth place in Human Resource Management, in addition to our other awards."

Phi Beta Lambda, the collegiate chapter of Future Business Leaders of America, is the largest student business leadership organization in the country.