NATCHITOCHES – Ciara Gibbs of Slaughter, a Northwestern State University student majoring in business administration, was named Outstanding Business Education Student for Region IV by the Business Education Division of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). Region IV includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. ACTE’s mission is to provide educational leadership in developing a competitive workforce. ACTE strives to empower educators to deliver high quality CTE programs that ensure all students are positioned for career success.
“I was able to apply for this award as a member of Phi Beta Lambda, the largest student career organization in the world. I currently hold a local chapter position and a state officer position for this organization,” she said. Phi Beta Lambda is the honor society for future business leaders and is the college branch of Future Business Leaders of America.
The award is just one of several recent honors Gibbs earned. She has been invited to become a lifetime member of the NSU Chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honor society for business colleges and schools accredited by AACSB, which are the top five percent of business school programs in the world.
“Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive in an undergraduate or master’s program at a school accredited by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business,” Gibbs said. “To become a member of this international honor society, you must be in the top 10 percent of all juniors and seniors majoring in business, computer information systems and/or accounting.
Gibbs also recently earned membership in Purple Jackets, the oldest club at NSU whose members serve as the official hostesses for the university. Women are selected for their high academic, service and leadership records.
Gibbs’ future plans include attending graduate school to earn an MBA.
“I would love to end up working in a human resource department for a Fortune 500 company and later on work for the federal government,” she said. Gibbs credited faculty in NSU’s School of Business for her personal and academic growth.
“Dr. Carmella Parker and Dr. Elizabeth Prejean have helped me tremendously in my time here at NSU to grow not only as a student preparing for the professional world, but as a person,” she said.
“My time in Future Business Leaders of America – Phi Beta Lambda has inspired me to pursue business and to stay a business major. All of the organizations that I am involved in have helped me further my leadership abilities. I was involved with leadership positions in high school but gaining these leadership positions in college helped me develop effective communication skills and to take more feedback to improve myself. My confidence level has improved tremendously for just myself and speaking in front of people through these organizations.”
Information on degree programs offered through NSU’s School of Business is available at business.nsula.edu.
