FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2003
CONTACT: Elizabeth Eguia-Garcia, Palo Alto College Director--Office of Institutional Advancement & Public Affairs
(210) 921-5269

Palo Alto College students to represent Texas Phi Beta Lambda at national leadership conference

Texas Phi Beta Lambda will be well represented at the Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda 2003 National Leadership Conference in Dallas, June 29 – July 2. Palo Alto College student, Erin Carr, is president/ceo of the Texas PBL State Chapter and the PAC PBL Chapter. Therese Palacios is faculty adviser of the PAC Chapter and also serves as the Texas PBL State Chair.

"Planning for the national conference was convenient, " said Palacios, "since Erin and I are both at Palo Alto. " Carr added, "Working at the local and state levels has been an extremely rewarding experience. The business and leadership training I have received are invaluable. "

Students that place first or second at the state level advance to the national competition. PAC students that placed at the state leadership conference and will be competing at nationals include Erin Carr, first place in future business executive; Lisa Robertson, first place in business communication; Gwen Hanson, second place in computer applications; Cindy Morgan, second place in word processing; and Maria Sanchez (substituting for Kristie Chapa) and Noon Sitthiohane, second place in desktop publishing. The PAC chapter also won first place in Local Chapter Annual Business Report and will be competing at the national level in this event.

The mission of Phi Beta Lambda is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs. FBLA-PBL involves nearly 300,000 active members in 12,000 chartered chapters throughout the world. One of the highlights of membership in the organization is the opportunity to participate in the Competitive Events Series, which is part of the National Awards Program. There are over 30 areas of competition that are based upon a variety of business education curriculum, from accounting and marketing to computer applications and economics.

Palo Alto College is a fully accredited community college located on the Southside, and awards associate degrees, short-term certificates and offers non-credit continuing education classes. The college is recognized nationally for its high transfer rate. The campus is located at 1400 W. Villaret Blvd. at I-410 South and Texas Hwy. 16.