Rankin College of Business students and faculty represented SAU at the FBLA-Collegiate National Leadership Conference
Students from Southern Arkansas University’s Rankin College of Business returned home from the 2026 FBLA-Collegiate National Leadership Conference in Las Vegas with seven national awards and several additional accomplishments, continuing the University’s tradition of excellence in national business competitions.
Fourteen SAU students, accompanied by faculty advisors Dr. Lindsay Givens and Miranda Bryan, attended the conference, where students spent several days completing objective tests, delivering speeches and presentations, analyzing business cases, and participating in professional development workshops.
At the conference awards ceremony, SAU students earned seven national awards by placing among the top competitors in their respective events.
“There were numerous top business students from across the country competing in every event, so earning a top-10 finish at the national level is such an impressive accomplishment,” Givens said. “I am very proud of the hard work that our students put into preparing for their competitions throughout this past year.”
Leading the way for SAU was Laura Elnaggar, who earned second place nationally in International Business. Elnaggar also placed fourth in Organizational Behavior & Leadership, making her one of the University’s top individual performers at the conference.
Gracie Brown and Elizabeth Grace captured third place in the Accounting Case Competition. Case competitions challenge students to analyze complex business scenarios and develop solutions under time constraints before presenting their recommendations to judges.
Skye Morales earned two national awards, placing fifth in both Project Management and Supply Chain Management, demonstrating exceptional knowledge across multiple areas of business.
Jacob Lewis placed seventh nationally in Sports Management & Marketing, while Alexis Tatum earned a ninth-place finish in Foundations of Selling.
In addition to the seven national award winners, Jalynn Allen advanced to the final round of the highly competitive Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition. Advancing to the final round represented a significant achievement in one of the conference’s most competitive events.
The FBLA-Collegiate National Leadership Conference brings together outstanding collegiate business students from across the United States to compete in events designed to test their knowledge, analytical abilities, communication skills, and leadership potential. Students qualify for the national competition through strong performances at their respective state leadership conferences.
“These students represented Southern Arkansas University exceptionally well,” Givens said. “Their accomplishments reflect not only their individual dedication and talent, but also the commitment of the Rankin College of Business to providing meaningful experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for professional success.”
To learn more about the Rankin College of Business and Southern Arkansas University, visit www.SAUmag.edu/Business.
About SAU:
Southern Arkansas University provides students with the complete college experience in a caring environment of service, innovation, and community. With more than 100 degrees across four distinct colleges and the School of Graduate Studies, SAU initiates new degree programs to meet the needs of today’s career and professional trends. To learn more about SAU, visit www.saumag.edu.
