Two DSU students to compete at National PBL Conference

June 16, 2022

DSU students Lucy Fods and Cooper Vincent are traveling to Chicago to compete at the National Leadership Conference June 24-27.

Fods and Vincent competed at the State Leadership Conference in April, earning first and second place results, respectively, and earning them a chance to compete nationally.

A double major in marketing and management from Chester, S.D., Fods chose to compete in the marketing concepts division.

Fods took a multiple-choice objective test that covered information she learned in classes on topics like microeconomics, accounting principles, and marketing.  

“I am looking forward to spending time with other PBL members,” she said. “I have never gotten to attend any of the state or national leadership conferences in person, so I am excited to experience it.”

Vincent, a finance major from Grayslake, Ill., was inspired to compete in the personal finance division based on his experience with a personal finance course in high school and interning at a personal financial planning firm.

In addition to his prior experience with personal finance, a unit on personal finance in his Intro to Business course reinforced the concepts necessary to compete.

At the state competition, Vincent was tested on a variety of competencies, such as personal finance planning processes, time value of money principles and calculations, personal financial statements, credit concepts, basic investment planning, and more.

He is looking forward to meeting new people at the national competition.

DSU PBL Club advisor Dr. Yenling Chang is proud of the competitors.

“The students and I are definitely looking forward to an in-person national leadership conference two years after the Covid outbreak,” Chang said.

“I encourage the students to fully enjoy what the conference has to offer: networking, professional development, or mingling with friends from other schools.”