Financial Planning and Etiquette Dinner Builds Skills for Success at Peru State College Nearly 40 students, faculty, and staff recently attended the Financial Planning and Etiquette Dinner hosted in March by Peru State College Career Services in partnership with the College’s Foundation. Students stepped out of their comfort zone to learn about professional behaviors in social settings. The event drew students ranging from first-year students to seniors and an array of majors from all three schools on campus. Faculty and staff served as table hosts. Funds from the Dr. Daryl and Peggy Long Personal Finance and Etiquette Education endowment were utilized for hosting the event. Dr. Long had long supported the finance and etiquette workshops and wanted to make sure the College was able to continue providing education for students in perpetuity. The evening started with a social reception including appetizers and beverages, followed by an excellent three-course meal provided by Fresh Ideas. Ted L. Harshbarger, Executive Director for the Peru State College Foundation, presented proper etiquette techniques throughout the social hour and for each course. Students learned valuable tips such as which fork to use, which glass to use for water, the proper way to eat bread, and what to do if there is something on your plate you do not like. The goal of the event is to make students more comfortable at formal events in the future. Many students will have an opportunity to use their interpersonal communication and etiquette skills at networking events, interviews, formal work dinners, or banquets. Cole Sharp, a 2013 Peru State graduate, a Certified Financial Planner at BluePrint Financial Planning in Nebraska City, and an adjunct business instructor for the College, presented the financial planning portion of the event. He shared advice with attendees on saving, investing, and budgeting money. In addition, he shared several aspects that Dr. Long had previously shared in his presentations regarding the importance of saving early and how an individual’s money is compounded while invested. Students attending the event included (major and hometown included where available): Ethan Nycum – Criminal Justice – Falls City; Misa De Abreu – Criminal Justice – San Antonio, Texas; Matthew Gronenthal – Criminal Justice – Platte Center; Kyla Randolph – Psychology – Auburn; Jim Nehls – Undeclared – Nebraska City; Gaby Rabun – Criminal Justice – Legal Studies - Cambridge; Alyse Foster – Criminal Justice – Administration – Indianola; Maddy Meador – Pre-Optometry - Omaha; Brooke Bahnsen – Elementary Education – Beatrice; Braylin Boyce - Elementary Education - Tobias; Paige Amos – Secondary English Education – Clay Center; Andrea Dea – Art Education - Greenwood; Wyatt Wason – Business Administration/CMIS – Falls City; Abigayle Meeseke – Elementary Education – Weeping Water; Brooklyn Williamson – Music Education - Omaha; Sidney Johansen – Elementary Education – Powhatten, Kan.; Tobin Wingender – Criminal Justice - Omaha; Reagan Hagey – Criminal Justice – Burlington Junction, Mo.; Nicholas Syms – Criminal Justice – Clearwater, Fla.; and Madison Wolfe – Criminal Justice - Alma. On May 10, over 300 students will receive their degrees from Peru State and put skills they learned to use in their professional careers. Providing career development opportunities for students helps build skills they need to succeed not only in their careers but everyday life. Suzie Adams, now academic advisor for the School of Professional Studies, developed and coordinated the event. Dr. Gina Toman, Dean of the School of Professional Studies, emceed the event with Dr. Wendy Waugh, Interim President and Vice President of Academic Affairs, providing a welcome and closing. (fb)

Peru State FBLA Collegiate Has Success at Nebraska State Leadership Conference The Peru State College FBLA Collegiate Chapter recently experienced success at the Nebraska State Leadership Conference held in Kearney. Dr. Sheri Grotrian, professor of business and the group’s advisor, reported the Peru State chapter earned two first place finishes and many other top placings. Grotrian said, “It is always a pleasure to celebrate not only the student achievements, but also their continued dedication to the FBLA organization overall. Their annual success at the State Leadership Conference is a testament to their hard work and quality education provided at Peru State. We all look forward to preparing for the upcoming National Leadership Conference this summer, and I eagerly anticipate further demonstration of their talents and skills.” Based on their placements, many students are automatically eligible to compete at the National Leadership Conference which will be held in Dallas this May. At this time, 15 students have automatically qualified for the NLC with others most likely moving up to compete as competitors can only participate in two events in Dallas. Say’v’on Lankford, sophomore management major from Independence, Mo., claimed two first place honors. Lankford was pleased with his performance and stated, “I’m really proud of my achievement at the SLC and am grateful for the support from my family, teammates, and really, Ms. Sheri (Dr. Sheri Grotrian – advisor). Winning first place has motivated me to continue striving for excellence in everything I do.” The following is a listing of the individual and team winners for the Peru State College FBLA Collegiate Chapter (an * indicates automatic qualifier in the event): Hend Alsaman – freshman finance and math major from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 5th place – Foundations of Economics 7th place – Foundations of Communication Israel Chiswisa – sophomore computer management information systems major from Lincoln 2nd place – Foundations of Communication* 4th place – Future Business Facilitator* Ashley Glazebrook – senior accounting major/criminal justice major from Ogallala Who’s Who Award Amelia Hakl – freshman marketing major from Spencer 7th place – Job Interview Lander Imbimbo – senior management major from Newhaven, England 4th place – Foundations of Marketing* 4th place – Retail Management* 6th place – Organizational Behavior & Leadership Dominic Kouba – freshman undeclared from Auburn 5th place – Supply Chain Management 9th place – Foundations of Economics 10th place – Foundations of Entrepreneurship Say’v’on Lankford – sophomore management major from Independence, Mo. 1st place – Foundations of Communication* 1st place – Foundations of Management* Gerald Lewis – sophomore management and leadership major from Gladstone, Mo. 4th place – Future Business Executive* 4th place – Hospitality Management Case Competition* 6th place – Business Ethics Will Mueller – graduate student from Springdale, Ark. 3rd place – Foundations of Entrepreneurship* 5th place – Foundations of Selling 5th place – Sports Management & Marketing Alexis Mullins – freshman finance major from Beatrice 3rd place – Foundations of Economics* 4th place – Foundations of Finance* Zoe Newman – freshman criminal justice – legal studies major from Lincoln 9th place – Retail Management Jason Nguyen – freshman computer management information systems major from Hastings 4th place – Foundations of Technology* Carson Pierce – freshman marketing and management major from Lincoln 3rd place – Sports Management & Marketing* 5th place – Public Speaking Mia Rkili – sophomore English and creative writing major from Murdock 5th place – Impromptu Speaking Colin Shields – senior management major from Wichita, Kan. 3rd place – International Business* 4th place – Sports Management & Marketing* 7th place – Organizational Behavior & Leadership Kyndall Sprague – freshman human resources major from Henry 3rd place – Foundations of Communication* 9th place – Foundations of Hospitality Management Wyatt Wason – freshman computer management information systems major from Falls City 5th place – Foundations of Computer Science Team Events Hend Alsaman, Kyndall Sprague, & Wyatt Wason 2nd place – Business Ethics* 4th place – Emerging Business Issues Amelia Hakl & Mia Rikli 2nd place – State of the Chapter Presentation* Gerald Lewis & Carson Pierce 3rd place – Marketing, Sales & Communications Case* Gerald Lewis, Jason Nguyen, & Carson Pierce 9th place – Emerging Business Issues Alexis Mullins & Zoe Newman 2nd place - Emerging Business Issues* 6th place – Management Case Chapter Awards Gold Level Excellence Award Overall Excellence Award for Four-Year Colleges Glazebrook was recognized for having served the state association as its vice president of communication this past year. Dr. Grotrian is a 2002 graduate of Peru State and herself a former member of the association. Several former Peru State graduates and former members of Phi Beta Lambda, the predecessor to Collegiate FBLA, served as judges for the SLC. They included Hannah (Chubbuck ’17) Clayton of Walnut, Iowa; Trey Nelson ’19 of Lincoln; Tristen Nelson ’17 of Lincoln, master’s ’20; Anthony De Abreu ’19 of Papillion; and Ted L. Harshbarger ’77 of Humboldt. Nebraska FBLA Collegiate is dedicated to inspiring and developing the next generation of leaders by preparing members for careers in business and business-related fields. (fb)