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April 2017

EKU Hosts International Hitachi Supply Chain Conference

EKU Supply Chain Management students turn out for the Hitachi Automotive Conf

Hundreds of global supply chain professionals gathered EKU's Center for the Arts for the Hitachi Automotive Supply Chain Conference on Tuesday, April 25. Supported by EKU's Global Supply Chain Management (SCM) program, the event brought together industry experts and suppliers from multiple countries. EKU SCM students helped with event coordination and attended various sessions.

College of Business and Technology Dean Dr. Tom Erekson brought greetings on behalf of the University. Presentations included a business update from Hitachi Automotive CEO Paul Carroll plus additional sessions on sales, quality production control, logistics, and procurement. Supplier awards capped off the day along with a reception.

Kelsey Price, SCM senior from Paintsville, said, “I am really excited to be a part of EKU’s new Global Supply Chain Management program. There are so many opportunities to engage SCM leaders who come to campus to speak in our classes as well as the Supply Chain Executive Speaker Series. The faculty in this program are very student-focused and teach realworld concepts. I’m looking forward to an internship with a prestigious company and am excited about the many opportunities this program provides in helping me prepare for my career.”

According to EKU SCM Executive-in-Residence James Kirby Easterling, "This was a phenomenal event and our SCM students were appreciative of the opportunity to hear a ‘real world’ business update as well as engage with Hitachi’s leaders and suppliers. We greatly appreciate our partnership with the Hitachi Automotive group. This relationship is very special to me as my first job out of college was with Hitachi—and now to be in my current position where I’m working with Hitachi leaders on filling key SCM positions—is personally very rewarding."

For more information about EKU’s Global Supply Chain Management Program, visit management.eku.edu/GSM.

Junior Receives Washington Center Internship

Lucy Burkhart photo

When Eastern Kentucky University junior Lucy Burkhart entered the Patterson Scholar program, a scholarship offered by the Department of Management, Marketing, and International Business (MMIB) that gives $2,000 annually to high-achieving business students, she expected to grow into a focused student and capable businesswoman.

She didn’t expect that it would lead her to one of the most prestigious internship programs in the country.

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is a non-profit organization that provides elite college students with opportunities to work and learn in the competitive environment of Washington D.C.

The program, which boasts more than 50,000 alumni, offers internship placements in nearly every field, including media and communications, science and technology, law and criminal justice, and many more. Burkhart, of Pineville, Kentucky, is one of several EKU students accepted this year. She has accepted a marketing position with InterAction, an alliance organization of nongovernmental organizations committed to working with the world’s poor and vulnerable.

As a marketing major, Burkhart is excited for “an opportunity to gain work experience in a city with a unique and thriving business atmosphere.” She believes the experience will help prepare her for a future working to make the world a better place.

“Not only will I gain hands on work experience in my field of study,” she said, “but I will be able to network with business professionals from different types of major organizations.”

Even before receiving the internship, Burkhart was widely recognized at Eastern “as an excellent student, both in and outside of the classroom,” according to Dr. Lana Carnes, MMIB chair. “She provides leadership to the department through recruiting incoming freshmen, participating in a phonathon to retain admitted EKU students, and being a role model for all current students in her major classes.”

Examples of that leadership include Burkhart’s visit to a high school to talk with students about careers in the business field, and her participation in MMIB’s Management Case Development Workshop and Competition.

Burkhart, a 2015 graduate of Bell County High School, realizes the impact those opportunities have had on her growth as a person. She credits the Patterson Scholar Program and EKU Honors for “challenging me academically and giving me the chance to represent them.”

Burkhart explained that the scholarship, along with the constant support of EKU faculty and staff, “have inspired me every day to not only be a better business professional, but an overall person as well. I have a grown as a student, friend, sister, and daughter.”

Burkhart doesn’t have any definite career plans for her future, but she continues to work hard.

“I hope to show my future employers that I have demonstrated dedication and commitment hard work and passion for my given field.”

-- by Yasmin White, Student Writer, EKU Communications and Brand Management

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EKU PBL Brings Home Top State Awards

EKU PBL award winners at the 2017 Academic Competitions

Twenty-three Eastern Kentucky University business students won 28 awards at the Phi Beta Lambda (Future of Business Leaders of America) Academic Competitions this past weekend. The Spring Leadership State Competition was held in Madisonville, Ky. Among the many awards was Third Largest Chapter Membership from 2016 to 2017.

1st Place Awards:
  • Business Law - Laura Jackson (Barbourville)
  • Business Presentation - Daniel Bevins (Pikeville), Austin Kidd (Pikeville), Dalton Stanley (Pikeville)
  • Contemporary Sports Issues - Austin Kidd
  • Desktop Publishing - Wendi Smith (Pikeville), Alex Martin (Richmond)
  • Economic Decision Making and Analysis - Will Davis, Quinton Lyvers (Bardstown)
  • Entrepreneurship Concepts - Kaelyn Prince
  • Information Management - Makayla Jones (Owingsville)
  • Management Concepts - Austin Hodge (Barbourville)
  • Networking Concepts - Hunter West (Berea)
  • Public Speaking - Jessica Casebolt (Pikeville)
  • Macroeconomics - Weston Robbe (Richmond)
  • Statistical Analysis - Savannah Day (Owingsville)
  • Sales Presentation - Daniel Bevins
  • Project Management - Dalton Stanley
  • Hospitality Management - Luke and Kaelyn Prince (Nicholasville)
  • Retail Management - Austin Hodge
  • Impromptu Speaking - Jessica Casebolt
  • Client Service - Meagan Bevins (Pikeville)
2nd Place Awards:

  • Desktop Publishing - Caitlyn Klaas (Union)
  • Entrepreneurship Concepts - Sydney Ziebold (Fairfield, Oh.)
  • Financial Concepts - Seth Barron (Eubank)
  • Future Business Educator - Meagan Bevins
  • Marketing Concepts - Caitlyn Kirchoff (Henderson)
  • Integrated Marketing Campaign - Laura Jackson, Wendi Smith, Savannah Day
  • Computer Concepts - Alex Martin
  • Help Desk - Hunter West
  • Impromptu Speaking - Caitlyn Klaas
  • Retail Management - Caitlyn Kirchoff
  • Microeconomics - Tim Lumbrix (Louisville)

EKU PBL students at the 2017 State Academic CompetitionsEKU’s PBL Advisor, Dr. Marcel Robles, noted that “our EKU students work diligently in their student organization by providing community service, fundraising, networking with business professionals, and studying for academic testing.” As shown by the 23 award winning plaques they brought home, their endeavors obviously pay off each semester. The first- and second-place student winners are eligible to participate in this summer’s National Leadership Conference and Academic Competitions to be held in Anaheim, Calif. Robles beamed as she said, “EKU can be proud that our students are definitely the business leaders of tomorrow.”

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