Two UF students won national titles at the Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference in Chicago.
Danielle Shu, a 21-year-old UF business senior, placed sixth in the category of desktop publishing. Natalie Calvo, a 19-year-old UF public relations sophomore, placed third in hospitality during the same conference.
The 1,600-student conference took place June 24 through 27. Calvo won $100 for placing in the top three and both took home trophies.
“I remember hearing fourth through 10th place being called,” Calvo said, “and whispering to the official next to me, ‘That's not me. That's still not me.’ Every name thrilled me more as I knew I'd advanced further.”
Competitors from the state of Florida won 60 awards at nationals, more than any other state.
“I want people to know there’s something here where they can compete,” Shu said. “We get to exercise our competition strength and it’s really fun.”
Phi Beta Lambda is the largest and oldest student business organization in the world, according to its website. It is the collegiate version of Future Business Leaders of America.
Shu, who is the president of Phi Beta Lambda, wanted to attend nationals so badly that she decided to drive 15 hours to Chicago instead of flying.
She brought with her a microwave for the hotel room, $2 microwavable dinners and her boyfriend, who’s also one of the competition judges.
“As a college student, I love to save money,” Shu said. She said she ate out five times during the trip, but only ate half the food; the rest she put in the fridge for later.
Shu used her talents in graphic design to create a brochure, poster and advertisement for a fictitious rock band and presented it to judges.
Calvo flew to the conference with her parents, making it sort of a vacation, she said.
She decided to compete in hospitality because of her internship as a front-desk chair at Disney’s All-Star Resort, which she said is one of the busiest resorts in the world.
Calvo is a public relations major, yet she competed against students who were hospitality majors and people who worked in the hospitality industry for years. She took home second place at states and third place at nationals.
