All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

A-B students recognized with top honors at PBL State Leadership Conference

AB PBL State Conference
Thirteen of the nineteen Alderson Broaddus students pose with their awards from the PBL State Leadership Conference. Front row, right to left: Brenna Dugan, Michalea Bolyard, Gray Ramsey, Abigail Busch, Alexcia Kolish, Tiffany Hinchman, Rhea John. Second row, right to left: Rich Foley (advisor), Alex Buckheit, Christian Heater, Kiley Sparks, Jeremy Linaburg, Abigail Smith, Ciara Bauman.


PHILIPPI, W.Va. — The Alderson Broaddus University Phi Beta Lambda chapter joined more than 150 of West Virginia’s best and brightest business-minded college students to Lead, Educate, and Inspire at the PBL State Leadership Conference in Fairmont. Students attended the conference to enhance their business skills, expand their networks, and participate in 60 business and business-related competitive events to qualify for a spot at nationals.

The Alderson Broaddus University PBL chapter won top honors in their division, qualifying 19 members who will move on to compete at the National Leadership Conference held in San Antonio, Texas in June.

Walaa Abo Elenin from Clarksburg, W.Va. won second place in Microeconomics; Ciara Bauman from Barnesville, Ohio won first in Hospitality Management and second in Parliamentary Procedure; Michalea Bolyard from Newburg, W.Va. won first in Parliamentary Procedure and Integrated Marketing Campaign; Alex Buckheit from Baltimore, Md. won first in Integrated Marketing Campaign and second in Parliamentary Procedure; Abigail Busch from Eldersburg, Md. won second in Business Law and Global Analysis & Decision Making; Carson Comer from Powell, Ohio won second in Macroeconomics; Wade Conner from Grafton, W.Va. won first in Integrated Marketing Campaign and Parliamentary Procedure; Brenna Dugan from Alum Creek, W.Va. won third in Job Interview and Desktop Publishing; 

Christian Heater from Rock Cave, W.Va. won second in Business Law and Global Analysis & Decision Making; Tiffany Hinchman from Grafton, W.Va. won first in Hospitality Management and second in Parliamentary Procedure; Rhea John from Kerala, India won first in Business Sustainability; Alexcia Kolish from Middletown, Pa. won first in Parliamentary Procedure and Business Decision Making; Ja’Torrian Lee from Charlotte, N.C. won second in Parliamentary Procedure; Jeremy Linaburg from Stephens City, Va. won first in Social Media Campaign and Local Chapter Annual Business Report; Gray Ramsey from Plano, Texas won second in Parliamentary Procedure; Katelyn Shrader from Beverly, W.Va. won first in Parliamentary Procedure; Abigail Smith from Winchester, Va. won second in Organizational Behavior & Leadership and third in Desktop Publishing; Kiley Sparks from Dillsboro, Ind. won first in Future Business Educator; and Taylor Treadway from Ravenswood, W.Va. won first in Parliamentary Procedure.

“It’s always a pleasure to be a part of these competitions and to be with your peers from across a wide variety of colleges and disciplines,” stated Jeremy Linaburg, Alderson Broaddus PBL chapter president. “I’m so proud of our PBL chapter at AB.” 

These awards are part of a comprehensive national competitive events program sponsored by FBLA-PBL that recognizes and rewards excellence in a broad range of business and career-related areas. For many students, the competitive events are the capstone activity of their academic careers.

“It’s an honor to serve alongside so many bright, talented, and motivated students who recognize the importance of demonstrating career-related skills during these events,” said Linaburg. “Our top place finishes speak volumes about the quality of our students and our education at AB.” 

AB PBL State Conference
AB students participating in the Parliamentary Procedure competition pose for a photo at the PBL State Leadership Conference. From right to left: Michalea Bolyard, Alex Buckheit, Gray Ramsey, Ciara Bauman, Tiffany Hinchman, Wade Connor.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Football Bucs show promise despite setback to Bridgeport in season opener

Buckhannon-Upshur fell 62-14 to defending champion Bridgeport in the season opener, with Bridgeport rushing for 454 yards while the young Bucs, despite −47 rushing, showed flashes on two long touchdown passes.

Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra returns to West Virginia Wesleyan College for highly anticipated homecoming concert

West Virginia Wesleyan College will host the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra for a much-anticipated Homecoming concert Sept. 25, 2025, featuring college president Dr. James Moore and tickets available for $20.

Appalachian Impact moving into a new home on Main Street in Buckhannon

Appalachian Impact is relocating from the Hampton Community Building to 64 East Main (the former H&R Block), a downtown space that officials say will support program growth after AmeriCorps funding returned.

Buckhannon Colonial Arts Center Board Agenda: September 2, 2025

The City of Buckhannon Colonial Arts Center Board will convene Sept. 2, 2025; this article publishes the meeting agenda.

City council hears traffic report on congestion at school dismissal time near Buckhannon Academy

Police told city council that congestion at Buckhannon Academy Elementary during dismissal — evidenced by an 87-car queue and three traffic pauses — would be eased by a larger pickup area.

Meteorologist Dillon Gaudet comes home to West Virginia

Meteorologist Dillon Gaudet has returned to West Virginia as WSAZ’s morning weather anchor, leaving Lexington to replace longtime forecaster Brandon Butcher.

Carpenter Crunch Time Week 1: Does Wesleyan get to Post a win this weekend?

In Carpenter Crunch Time Week 1, West Virginia Wesleyan, mired in a 24-game losing streak, visits struggling Post University — which has lost nine straight — while My Buckhannon staff launches its weekly seven-game picks contest.

Football Bucs embrace underdog role against Bridgeport in opener Friday night

Buckhannon-Upshur, acknowledging heavy underdog status against defending Class AAA champion Bridgeport Friday, will lean on home-field advantage, senior QB Dawson Tenney and focused clock management as they aim to keep the opener competitive.

First Community Bank takes fourth-quarter lead in men’s golf

First Community Bank took the fourth-quarter lead with a 26-14 win over Highland Landscaping; Chris Brady shot 33 to win Low Actual and share Low Net honors.