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.

Northern Arizona University contributes nearly $2 billion to the Arizona economy each year, according to a new study conducted by the Arizona Rural Policy Institute, a unit of NAU’s Alliance Bank Outreach Center.

The study shows that NAU contributes $1.85 billion in economic activity, which supports 20,300 Arizona jobs. Further, NAU’s 88,600 alumni pay more than $68 million in Arizona state income taxes, a figure related to their educational attainment.

NAU serves 27,000 students statewide and creates one in five jobs in Coconino County.

At the university’s sites throughout the state, NAU’s economic impact is on an upward trajectory. The Phoenix Biomedical Campus generated an estimated $17.5 million during the last fiscal year, a figure expected to grow to about $39 million annually by 2019.

“The economic well-being of the residents of Flagstaff and other communities throughout Arizona is enhanced by the purchases of goods and services and the jobs created as a result of the daily activities on NAU’s campuses,” said Jeff Peterson, research associate in the W.A. Franke College of Business and lead author of the report.

The study also points out that state investment in NAU earns huge returns for Arizona. Each dollar appropriated by the state generates $16.72 annually in economic activity including substantial contributions to the state and local tax bases.

Peterson said the figures are impressive when he considers reductions in state funding. “In addition to the large number of NAU workers in Coconino County, a good chunk of revenues are driven by student spending,” he said, referring to the $57.6 million in NAU-related state and local taxes collected in Coconino County.

Beyond current economic activity and expenditures, NAU is a driver for future growth, said John Stigmon, vice president of the Economic Development Collaborative of Northern Arizona. “One of the critical elements for our community is the support of Northern Arizona University because having the right talent in a community is what draws capital for economic development,” Stigmon said.

The report was based on the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2014.

Getting youngsters to try new foods and develop a taste for them is one way to introduce healthy food choices at home, according to Tami Hitt-Wyant, director of nutrition at Humboldt Unified School District (HUSD) in Prescott Valley.

“Keep trying new foods with your children,” Hitt-Wyant encouraged. “Young palates are ever-changing and it can take multiple times before a [child] accepts a new food. The rule in my house is two little bites.”

Building Block

For some American children, however, school may be their only exposure to making healthy eating a building block for their lives, says Pamela Liuzzo, HUSD’s district nutritionist.

“Children spend a majority of their waking hours in school and consume about two-thirds of their calories at school, so it makes sense that schools are the perfect environment to teach students about nutrition and wellness,” she said. “Sadly, some students have little to no nutrition or wellness education at home, which makes what we do even more important.”

Tasked with creating procedures that address all foods available to students during the school day, the district’s nutrition program encompasses meals under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program, à la carte food service offerings, vending machine and school store sales, classroom and special event menus, and snacks for after school programs.

Other area school districts, including Prescott (PUSD) and Chino Valley (CVUSD), provide similar initiatives for their students. The three districts partnered with Mayer Unified School District on a $50,000 Farm to School Planning Grant, which helped plan more locally produced food for school meals, Hitt-Wyant says. This month, the four entities will discuss applying for an implementation grant.

The HUSD Food and Nutrition Department – much like its counterparts – is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and also receives funding from paid meals and catering. “We are not supplemented by district funds,” Hitt-Wyant explained. “Our entire budget of $2.5 million goes back into the school nutrition program to pay for operation of the school meals program.”

Active Role

Families that wish to play an active role in allocating that money and educating children about healthy eating are encouraged to join parents, grandparents, teachers, administrators and community members at local School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) meetings.

Representing school and community interests, HUSD SHAC provides advice to the district about school health policies and programs. Operating under regulations and guidance issued by the secretary of agriculture, and in accordance with Arizona Nutrition Standards, SHAQ promotes and monitors student wellness.

Key to those efforts are nutrition guidelines for reimbursable school meals, nutrition education consistent with students’ age and culture, opportunities for enhancing students’ physical fitness, and creating “a total school environment that is conducive to healthy eating and physical activity,” according to the district’s website.

“We not only want to feed them, we want to nourish them,” Liuzzo said during a Jan. 15 meeting of HUSD’s SHAC. “We listen to our students and parents about our food and try to accommodate as best we can while meeting the strict government regulations.”

Setting the Tone

Leading by example is critical to students’ nutrition says Hitt-Wyant. “The best way to ensure children are eating healthy is to be a role model. Parents can not only encourage healthy eating, but [also] share healthy meals with their families.”

Liuzzo urges parents to “come to the school and have breakfast and lunch with their child. They will see and taste firsthand how school lunch has changed since their days in school. Students have many entrée choices to choose from at each meal. All of our bread and grains are whole grain, nothing is ever fried, and everything we serve is packed with nutrients.”

Additional healthy living programs for educators, families and people 50 and older are free through Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC). One of them, HealthTeacher, is an online teaching resource for K-12 educators.

Early Start

“Health literacy starts early in life,” said Robbie Nicol, YRMC’s executive director of community outreach and philanthropy, a former elementary school teacher. “It was very compelling to me to have this information available for kids in schools,” she said, characterizing HealthTeacher as a powerful resource for teachers. “And, having been in their shoes, I know how tight resources can be. It’s a tremendous program with all kinds of tools adapted to be used in a variety of classroom settings. One of the greatest benefits is pre-created lesson plans.”

The hospital also implemented another community health education program, HealthWise, consisting of handbooks and online resources for both families and older adults. The handbook, available free at both Prescott and Prescott Valley YRMC locations, comes in a larger font for seniors and a Spanish language version for families.

“The handbook covers a couple of hundred health topics and points people in the direction of things they might encounter at home, when to contact a doctor, and when to go to the emergency room,” said Nicol. “The online version has some 20,000 to 30,000 pieces of health care information.”

A third YRMC program, Partners for Healthy Students, is targeted to school children K-12 and their younger siblings.

Hitt-Wyant says breakfast is essential to a student’s ability to focus. “Eating breakfast has proved to increase test scores and improve attendance. Teaching healthy habits and providing nutritious meals aids to decrease the odds for chronic illness in the future.” QCBN

For more information about student and family wellness programs, contact the appropriate area school district or YRMC at www.yrmc.org.

By Sue Marceau

Quad Cities Business News