UCO College of Business Names 2020-21 Leadership Program Class

June 29, 2020

Media Contact: Jack Phillips, Coordinator of Marketing and Development, UCO College of Business, 405-974-5333, jphillips43@uco.edu

UCO College of Business Names 2020-21 Leadership Program Class

The University of Central Oklahoma College of Business recently named 16 students to the 2020-21 Broncho Business Leaders Class VII, also known as 2BLeaders, leadership development program. Following an application and evaluation process, students were selected based on their academic achievement and desire to grow their leadership skills.

“2BLeaders provides students with opportunities to learn outside the classroom through observation and practice,” said Holly Osburn, Ph.D., associate professor and chairperson of the Department of Management.

“It is exciting to be a part of something that has such widespread and long-lasting impact.”

2BLeaders empowers students to become agents of positive change in their organizations and communities while exposing students to business leaders in the local community. The curriculum includes matching each student with a mentor to work with throughout the program.

“2BLeaders helped me launch into my career with a running start by connecting my college experience to the professional world,” said Nathan Robinson, a 2BLeaders alumnus and product manager at Babylon Health in Austin, Texas.

“Instead of just learning or theorizing about the ‘real world,’ we took part in it and added real business value to it. I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to join the program and would recommend it in a heartbeat.”

Applications for the program open each spring, with the new cohort of 2BLeaders starting the following fall semester. Admission to the program is highly selective. To be considered, students must be a declared College of Business major, enrolled full time, have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and completed at least 60 credit hours. Students must also have a strong desire to lead. Membership encompasses a full academic year, where students enroll in a three-credit-hour course together.

“I always look forward to spending time with the UCO students that participate in the 2BLeaders program,” said Jim Denton, a 2BLeaders mentor and partner and wealth management adviser at Arledge and Associates, P.C. in Edmond, Oklahoma.

“It enriches my life to become a resource for each of these individuals who are embarking on their careers and their journey to a successful career. My job is to help them connect with the world that lies ahead.”

2BLeaders Class VII includes:

• Samuel Babb, a junior management information systems major from Edmond, Oklahoma
• Payton Bruce, a senior accounting major from Elgin, Oklahoma
• Vivian Brunch, a senior human resource management major from Perry, Oklahoma
• Deanne Cliburn, a junior operations and supply chain management major from Oklahoma City
• Aaron Cox, a junior finance and insurance and risk management major from Edmond, Oklahoma
• Madelyn Dancer, a senior business administration major from Soper, Oklahoma
• Travis Gray, a senior professional sales major from Edmond, Oklahoma
• Priscila Guillen, a senior economics major from Oklahoma City
• Sarah Heath, a senior accounting major from Liberal, Kansas
• Rebecca Hicks, a senior economics major from Keyes, Oklahoma
• Meredith Malatin, a senior finance major from Enid, Oklahoma
• Morgan Money, a junior marketing major from Edmond, Oklahoma
• Clayton Petty, a senior accounting major from Edmond, Oklahoma
• Jeremy Rosinski, a senior management information systems major from Choctaw, Oklahoma
• Haley Smith, a junior management information systems major from Walters, Oklahoma
• Courtney Toney, a junior management major from Midwest City, Oklahoma

For more information about 2BLeaders, visit www.uco.edu/business/current-students/experiential-learning/2bleaders or contact Osburn at 405-974-2443 or hosburn1@uco.edu.

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Editor's Note: Download art associated with this release at https://media.uco.edu/press/uploads/2020/06/2bleaders.jpg

Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma College of Business recently named 16 students to the 2020-21 Broncho Business Leaders, also known as 2BLeaders, leadership development program. Following an application and evaluation process, students were selected based on their academic achievement and desire to be a leader. Pictured, left to right, 2BLeaders alumni Mary Beth Balcerak, Ashley Salim, Kailey Kelpine and Terry Milo completed a ropes course as a team-building exercise.