Education

How does it feel to be competing in the world’s largest business career national competition for the first time?

Ask Mwangi “Moe” Karuri, a sophomore at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The Nairobi, Kenya, student qualified for the prestigious national competition by winning first place in three events at the Arizona state-level competition of the Future Business Leaders of America – Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL).

He won medals in tests that focused on financial concepts, accounting analysis and cost accounting.

What’s more, he defeated contestants from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, DeVry University, Phoenix College and Central Arizona College when they competed in April at the state qualifying tests.

The Aviation Business Administration major says he was thrilled to compete at a national level against top students from other colleges and universities.

“I know the national competition is tough. I’ll be competing against persons who have majored in something I’ve only had one or two courses in,” he said.

Karuri says his career goal is to work in aviation management, and he anticipates that he will start his own aviation college in his home country of Kenya.

Karuri is not the only ERAU student going to Chicago for the competitions later this month. A team of business students from ERAU-Prescott is headed there to vie for national honors.

ERAU Students Top Winners In State Competition

During the state competition, ERAU business students not only won – they dominated. The Eagle team won 24 first place finishes in 36 events – the best in the state. When second and third place awards were counted, ERAU collected 61 medals.

But winning for ERAU is not unusual. In fact, it is the norm.

It is the ninth consecutive year the ERAU PBL Business Club has won the state competition.

Northern Arizona University was second, with 15 total awards; and DeVry University was third, with 12 awards.

A first place winner in three events, Michelle Bennett, a sophomore Global Business major from Virginia, says the tests were among the toughest she had ever taken. She won gold medals in business law, economic analysis and future business education.

“I have to credit the faculty of the business department with our team’s success,” she said. “All the faculty who guide us are consistently helpful and resourceful in preparing us.”

Bennett hopes to work internationally in an aviation related business.

Yet another student, Adin Herzog, a sophomore Aviation Business Administration and Global Business major, will compete in economic analysis and decision making tests.

The San Diego student said he will spend hours online and studying textbooks preparing for the national competition.

Herzog says the real credit, though, for student success goes to the faculty. “Our fantastic professors are dedicated to the program and their students.”

His career goal is to work with an airline in an upper management position, possibly in revenue management, he says. “That will let me use economics, one of my passions, in a real-world scenario.”

One student who won a medal but cannot go to the national competition because of a summer job conflict is Mika Davidian, a sophomore Aviation Business Administration major from Roseville, California.

“I regret that I can’t go this year, but I have high hopes for next year,” she said.

Business Department Chair Robin Sobotta, an ERAU faculty member for 14 years, said the three aforementioned students and the others competing in Chicago will be “…highly sought after by employers when they graduate. We’re proud to say that we have 100 percent placement of our business major graduates.”

Sobotta, who earned a Ph.D. in public administration at Arizona State University, noted that typically, ERAU students are offered entry-level salaries in the $50,000 to $60,000 range.

She also said that Boeing International, the world’s largest aerospace industry and the leading manufacturer of aircraft, is a prime employer.

More than 300 students are enrolled in degree programs offered through her department. “It keeps our 10 faculty busy, for sure,” said Sobotta. “We anticipate adding two new faculty because of program growth.”

FBLA-PBL Conference and Competition Biggest in Nation

The FBLA-PBL National Leadership Conference, June 24-27, in Chicago, will have winners from every major college and university in the country competing for top honors through rigorous examinations that test their business knowledge and skills.

“The FBLA-PBL is the world’s largest business career student organization. We at ERAU are extremely proud that our business students swept the Arizona competition by winning first place. Such wins qualify our students to compete at the national level against some of the top universities in the country,” Sobotta said.

The FBLA-PBL post-secondary division has more than 11,000 student members and more than a quarter-million total members when middle school, high school, college and university and professional members are totaled.

Sobotta said FBLA-PBL members are highly sought after by the business and corporate employers.

Considered the pinnacle of FBLA-PBL experience in bringing business and education together, the Chicago conference will see the “best and brightest” involved in leadership events. The organization has forged partnerships with corporations and industries throughout the country to provide scholarships and to underwrite competitive events for students who achieve national ranking.

Through the years, ERAU students have routinely placed in the top 10 nationally.

ERAU Chancellor Frank Ayers praised the student competitors and their PBL club. “The quality and motivation of our business students is unmatched. Led by our amazing faculty, these students take on any challenge and produce great results. These same business students also perform highly successful consulting projects throughout Central and Northern Arizona.”

Ayers was referring to a capstone business course, where students serve as business consultants for actual business and corporate clients.

“Such an experience gives our students professional polish and real-world experience rather than the simulated experiences used at some of the more traditional schools,” Sobotta explained. “That kind of educational opportunity is encouraged by the FBLA-PBL.”

Perhaps “Moe” Karuri captures best the ERAU student attitude when he says, “I expect it to be tough, but I plan on placing nationally. Life is all about the effort you put in, and I believe with hard work, you can accomplish what you want in life.” QCBN

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

# 1 Comparing their medals from the Arizona Leadership Conference Competition sponsored by the Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lamba, (l to r) Mike Davidian, Adin Herzog, Mwangi Karuri and Michelle Bennett are among the ERAU team who qualified for the national competition in Chicago, June 24-27.

Photo by Ray Newton

#2-3 Comparing their medals from the Arizona Leadership Conference Competition sponsored by the Future Business Leaders of American-Phi Beta Lambda, (l to r) Michelle Bennett, Mwangi Karuri, Adin Herzog and Mike Davidian are among the ERAU team who qualified to compete at the national conference in Chicago, June 24-27.

Photo by Ray Newton

#4 Showing off a couple of the trophies won by ERAU business students at the recent Arizona Leadership Conference Competition sponsored by Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, Mwangi Karuri, Mika Davidian, Adin Herzog, Michelle Bennett and Business Department Chair Robin Sobotta are awaiting the national competition in Chicago, June 24-27.

Embry-Riddle Considered Potent and Growing Economic Force

By Ray Newton

Quad Cities Business News

During an Embry-Riddle event the evening before commencement, ERAU was praised by Prescott Mayor Marlin Kuykendall as having “…an often unacknowledged but very significant economic, cultural and educational impact upon the greater community.”

Kuykendall noted that students, most of whom come from out of state or from other countries, often rent homes or apartments, eat and shop in locally owned businesses, and spend thousands of dollars in recreational and entertainment activities.

“Most of the folks in our area really have no idea how much positive fiscal impact ERAU brings to our community. But we at the city follow the numbers, and we know that the more than 2,000 students who attend the university contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to our economy.”

He also noted that hundreds of parents and friends come to the Quad Cities area to visit students and attend university-sponsored programs and activities. “They spend money.

“But it’s not just the students and their families who contribute to our growing economy. We in Prescott benefit tremendously from the talented administrators, faculty and staff who work at the university, who live here and are an integral part of the community,” he said. “We in the city and the greater community owe ERAU a big thank you for being such a strong contributor to the kind of community we enjoy. Indeed, we in the city are proud to call ERAU ‘Prescott’s University.’”

Visiting financial expert David O’Maley echoed that attitude in his praise of the university. Currently chairman emeritus of Ohio National Financial Services, the retired former president and chief operating officer was in Prescott as the ERAU commencement speaker. O’Maley serves on major corporate, foundation and community-based boards.

“Nothing is more rewarding or exciting to see so many talented young people take advantage of the educational opportunities ERAU offers. They bring dynamic new dimensions to your community – and a lot of money.”

ERAU administrative officials anticipate a significant increase in student enrollment in August, when orientation and registration begins for the fall semester. QCBN

Story and photo by Ray Newton

Visionary planning by university leaders at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott campus has resulted in ghd creation of what will be the first STEM Education Center in Central and Northern Arizona.

STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – academic disciplines for which employers worldwide are seeking qualified employees.

ERAU Chancellor Frank Ayers says construction plans are being finalized, the project will be going out for bid soon and ground breaking for the multi-million dollar academic facility is expected in mid-summer.

“We hope to dedicate the STEM Center before the Spring 2017 semester,” Ayers said.

In March, Ayers addressed an audience of middle school and high school teachers and administrators throughout the Quad Cities area about the plan and his hopes for the STEM Education Center to be a place “where young people can be introduced to the sciences and other disciplines in an exciting, stimulating educational environment.”

Ayers said he and other university personnel envision the STEM Education Center not as an educational facility exclusively for ERAU students, but rather, as a site where middle and high school students can pursue their interests in economically vital disciplines.

Local Education Leaders Endorse STEM Project

Several Quad Cities administrative leaders applauded the announcement that students from throughout Arizona would be eagerly welcomed to the ERAU facility.

“This will be a great opportunity for students and staff to get hands-on experiences,” said Humboldt Unified School District Superintendent Paul Stanton. “What’s more, it’s accessible and affordable.”

Stanton’s thoughts were echoed by Joe Howard, incoming superintendent for the Prescott Unified School District. “An opportunity like this one will prepare students to enter the workforce with more than just a smattering of STEM proficiency. It will be-eye-opening and encourage them to pursue further STEM options.”

Yavapai County School Superintendent Tim Carter was effusive in his praise. “This kind of educational opportunity is exceptional – and it is absolutely needed. Now, students from smaller schools and school districts that do not have the resources for STEM education have a chance to learn from experienced personnel at a world-class university right here in Prescott.”

Costs for the two-story 51,500-square-foot building are estimated to be near $18 million, according to David Hall, ERAU chief business officer.

Construction of the steel, concrete, stucco and glass facility is expected to take from 15 to 18 months. It is being designed by Leo A. Daly, an internationally renowned firm that is considered to be one of the nation’s top architectural establishments.

Hall says the bid process would follow established bidding protocols. “Our preference, of course, is to keep everything as local as we can – purchasing, labor and so on.”

He emphasizes that the construction project will inject a substantial amount of money into the community.

Building to Contain Expansive Science and Technological Classrooms, Laboratories

The contemporary structure will contain two large classrooms, 17 laboratories, Space Grant-NASA rooms, high-speed computation/simulation dedicated space, faculty offices, adjunct offices, a conference-break room and a large lobby.

Many of the labs will be dedicated to specific scientific and technological applications, such as:

• Cosmic Ray Lab – designed to deepen understanding of how cosmic rays affect not only Earth but also deep space environments.
• The LIGO Optics Lab – for the search of gravitational waves and the study of black holes in space.
• Robotics Lab – a state-of-the-art facility to support course work and research in stationary, mobile and aerial robotic platforms.
• Energy and Thermo-Fluids Lab – to investigate how thermos-fluids affect engineering design and experimentation in energy harvesting devices.
• Advanced Computing and Simulation Lab – a sophisticated computing and research collaboration center that will support the ERAU campus.
• Space Grant Lab – will support undergraduate research for individual and group research projects for CubeSat and high altitude scientific ballooning missions.
• Multi-Disciplinary Design Studio – to support realistic capstone engineering design experiences.
• Biology Labs – offering the latest in scientific learning opportunities in a professional environment.
• Forensic Lab – instruction in cutting-edge forensic biology with a strong pre-med emphasis for students who intend to pursue graduate school or medical school.
• Wildlife Science Lab – for studying animals, their habitats and ecological systems.

The truly distinguishing feature of the STEM Education Center will be the domed roof Planetarium and Lecture Hall, open to the public and intended for frequent community use.

The 125-seat planetarium will feature 10 high-speed, versatile integrated computers that can create images from virtually anywhere in the universe on the domed perforated overhead screens.

“We view the Planetarium and its auditorium-lecture hall as a site for providing unique STEM educational experiences for students not only in the Quad Cities area but throughout Central and Northern Arizona,” Ayers said.

“We at Embry-Riddle believe the key to future economic prosperity lies in our ability to provide students with STEM know-how,” said ERAU Enrollment Management Dean Bryan Dougherty. “We know not all the students will view the sciences as possible careers, but we want to help all schools throughout Arizona generate some excitement in students about opportunities in these dynamically developing vocational choices.”

ERAU hopes to bring middle school and high school students to campus every Friday. QCBN

By Ray Newton

Quad Cities Business News

Northern Arizona University has been recognized by Best College Reviews as the top college offering online degrees. More than 80 institutions offering 10 or more online bachelor’s degrees were evaluated.