NDSU business graduate student Casondra Rutschke, the university’s Phi Beta Lambda chapter and chapter faculty adviser Andrea Smith received national recognition at the Phi Beta Lambda Awards of Excellence Program during the organization’s national leadership conference June 24-27 in San Antonio. 

Rutschke earned first place in two student competitions – Business Communication and Job Interview – and received $1,700 in cash prizes. Rutschke also was recognized as a recipient of the Institute for Leaders and National Leadership Conference Scholarships, a member of the 2018-19 PBL Conference Experience Committee and for receiving the 2019 North Dakota Who's Who Award. 

NDSU’s chapter of Phi Beta Lambda was recognized as a Gold Seal and Outstanding Local Chapter. 

Smith, lecturer of business law, was recognized as the 2019 North Dakota Outstanding Local Chapter Adviser. 

More than 2,000 of America’s college students traveled to Texas to participate in the conference, titled “Create. Lead. Inspire.”The students enhanced their business skills, expanded their networks and participated in 60 business-related competitive events, vying for more than $114,000 in cash awards.

Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda Inc. is considered the premier student business organization and has headquarters in Reston, Virginia. It has more than 250,000 members and advisers in more than 6,500 active middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. 

As a student-focused, land-grant, research university, we serve our citizens.