Three Mid-Plains Community College students have been named Phi Beta Lambda national award winners. They were recognized Monday at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.

PBL is the national collegiate career student organization preparing students for careers in business or business-related occupations.

It has more than 11,000 members nationwide and almost 300 members in Nebraska representing 15 chapters.

PBL offers innovative leadership and career development programs, which give members cutting edge skills to be successful in the work force.

In June approximately 2,000 members from across the U.S. participated in the PBL National Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tenn.

Participants from Nebraska earned 52 national competitive event awards, including six first-place awards, 10 second place awards and three third place awards.

As a result, Nebraska collected more awards than any other state represented – the first time that has ever happened.

On Monday, Gov. Dave Heineman and Matthew Blomstedt, Nebraska commissioner of education, presented certificates to those who placed in the top two spots of their competitive events at nationals. Erin Mitchell, of North Platte, was one of them.

The North Platte Community College student placed second in the word processing competition, which requires a demonstration of word processing efficiency beyond entry level.

The NPCC chapter of PBL claimed first place for submitting the winning annual business report. It’s been 17 years since a Nebraska PBL chapter took that honor, despite the fact that NPCC has been in the Top 10 several times.

Mitchell accepted the award on behalf of the college. Her advisors are Angie Chittick and Kathy McCune.

McCook Community College also did well. It earned second place in the website design category thanks to Ashley Noltensmeier, of McCook, and Veronica Waddell, of Indianola.

They were given a topic and had to design a website for viewing on as many platforms as possible. The women also had to present their website to a panel of judges.

Waddell also placed second in desktop publishing. The event requires an individual or team to demonstrate a high amount of skill in desktop publishing, creativity and decision-making. It’s the second time Waddell has placed second in the category at nationals, but the first time as an individual. She was part of a team last year.

The McCook Community College advisers are Janet Stalder and Lorrie Mowry.