FBLA Students Perform Well at State
Submitted Photo
Students from Mazama, Lost River, Bonanza and Gilchrist high schools competed in the FBLA state competition April 5 to 7 in Portland. The top four in each division will proceed to nationals.
During the school year, students take part in a regional and state-level competitions where each student selects a specific category to be tested in. Students may need to pass a written exam before advancing to a hands-on competition, where they make a presentation pitch on a specific topic relating to business, technology and career skills.
Nationals
Twenty-three students from the Klamath County School District will travel to Maryland to attend and compete at the Future Business Leaders of America's National Leadership Conference at the end of June.
The students, who range from freshman to seniors, represent one of the largest qualifying groups in the high schools’ recent history to attend the national event.
The students will be in Baltimore, Maryland, June 26 to July 2.
The students going to nationals reflect years of experience in FBLA clubs across several grade levels and across the school district. Mazama High School freshman Johnathan Havener and senior Matt Volpe said they each drew on personal interests and experiences when selecting their competitive FBLA events. Havener will compete in computer programming and design, while Volpe will compete in 3-D animation on a team with Jackson and Logan Boulter.
A packed field
The nationals-bound students will be joining 15,000 others from across the country. In each competition, they'll face-off against hundreds of other students. Competitors who place in the top ten may qualify to make formal, in-person presentations to several judges on stage for the chance to earn a national ranking and title.
For Volpe, who has previously been to nationals three times, but has not placed in the top ten, this year's trip represents an opportunity for him to “really go for it,” he said. He hopes to make it to the stage for the opportunity to place amongst the top ten in the nation. Mazama senior Jordan DeLorme expressed similar thoughts about his final competition as a high school student.
Bonding opportunity
The competition also represents an opportunity for the FBLA members to meet other students across the nation, as well as bond with one another.
Mazama senior Zach Landry said he's looking forward to getting to know his classmates better on the trip by spending time with them outside of school. Junior Brazil Cisneros said she is also looking forward to having the opportunity to represent Mazama High School on a national platform.
Students have been fundraising for the trip by asking for donations from business owners, hosting yard sales and by selling Krispy Kreme donuts.
FBLA is a national organization designed to teach students business practices, college and career preparation techniques, and business communication and networking skills. The organization offers middle school, high school and college-level opportunities.
Written by Sergio Cisneros, business teacher, FBLA advisor, Mazama High School Photos from Mazama FBLA and Bonanza FBLA. Submitted by Samantha Tippler, Public Relations, Klamath County School District. Edited for flow by Klamath Falls News.