Rebecca Thomas
Rebecca Thomas, a senior business administration major at Lee University and president of Lee’s chapter of Phi Beta Lambda, was awarded the PBL Tennessee State Leadership Award. PBL is a nonprofit honor society for postsecondary students seeking careers in business and business-related fields.
Thomas Payne, PBL national director, and Tom Boytain, PBL state director for Tennessee, traveled to Lee to present Ms. Thomas with the award.
According to Dr. Randy Miedaner, assistant professor of business at Lee and sponsor for PBL, Ms. Thomas and her team of officers have been instrumental in growing Lee’s chapter into one of the nation’s leading chapters. She was one of the founding members in re-establishing the chapter in her sophomore year, serving as the chaplain until she was elected president for the 2014-15 school year. Under Ms. Thomas’ presidency, membership has grown from 45 students to 113 students currently involved.
“Rebecca has been influential in initiating a financial literacy program for low-income families, brought in national keynote speakers including a member of the U.S. congress, and has our chapter actively involved in the state and national academic competitions,” said Dr. Miedaner.
In addition to serving as PBL’s president, Ms. Thomas has been a peer leader for two years for the freshman Gateway course, a small group leader for Elevation Student Ministries with North Cleveland Church of God, and a member of several honor societies including Alpha Chi, Delta Mu Delta, and Phi Eta Sigma. She received the business department award for 2015, was a nominee for the F.J. Lee Award, and is listed in “Who’s Who Among American College Students.”
“I’m humbled and surprised by the leadership award,” said Ms. Thomas. “I just saw a need to connect the department outside of the classroom, and for us to develop our professional skills in new ways.”
This year, Lee’s Phi Beta Lambda chapter has been involved in numerous projects. Lee members recently competed in PBL’s online skill and knowledge assessments, earning 28 different awards. The group organized a faculty and student cookout as well as many other social events for business students. Additionally, members visited a Future Business Leaders of America chapter at Hamilton Middle-High School to hold a “shark tank” event where students’ business ideas were presented and critiqued.
PBL’s mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs.
For more information about Lee’s Department of Business, call 614-8160.
For more information about Phi Beta Lambda, visit http://www.fbla-pbl.org/.