Future Business Leaders of America returns to LRHS

With new interest and a new advisor, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is returning to Lind-Ritzville High School (LRHS).

FBLA was last a club at LRHS in the 2012-2013 academic year. The club dissolved not due to lack of participation but for the lack of an advisor to lead the club.

Steve Greenwalt, in his first year at LRHS, has been an FBLA advisor for the past 16 years and recently initiated the movement to revive FBLA.

Greenwalt said, “I am very motivated to bring FBLA back to LRHS and want to make it as strong as possible.

“FBLA provides an opportunity for a student to either dig deeper into material and content they want to learn more about or to challenge themselves by competing or participating in something new.”

Several students are enthusiastic about the club’s return.

Senior Felicia Ziemer explained, “I wanted to be a part of FBLA because I saw it as a new opportunity which would provide me with skills for the business world.”

Kallie Harder, also planning on being an active member, said, “I wanted to be a part of FBLA because I have heard nothing but great things about the organization.”

She added, “I want to take advantage of the life skills it has to offer.”

Founded in 1942, FBLA’s mission is to “bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs.”

Through competitions, seminars, workshops, and the like, the club emphasizes leadership development, academic competition, community service, and academic accolades.

Competitive events are a large aspect of FBLA and are a strong motivation for participation.

To describe the purpose of academic competition in the cultivation of tomorrow’s leaders, FBLA’s website explains, “Competitive events at the National Leadership Conference play an integral role in the mission of FBLA... They prepare students for successful careers in business by providing opportunities to apply classroom concepts in a workforcesimulated competitive environment.”

“FBLA offers a variety of events to participate in that pertain to my future,” Ziemer said. “After high school I would like to possibly pursue a degree in Business administration or marketing with a minor in sports business management.”

Harder, too, looks forward to preparing for her career through FBLA: “I plan to pursue a career in accounting, and FBLA offers business skills as one of its competitive events.”

Other motivations that participants cite for competition include demonstration of career competency, expansion of leadership skills, cultivation of competitive spirit, traveling to competition locations, and networking with leaders in their desired occupations.

Students have the option to compete in over 70 events that apply to all aspects of the business world. Advertising, impromptu speaking, organizational leadership, business ethics, and cyber security, among many others, will all be available for members to participate in.

Participation in FBLA is expanding. A collegiate division of FBLA, Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL), was founded in 1958 for budding entrepreneurs to “complement [their] academic experience” and gain an edge over among peers in their respective careers.

To involve a younger demographic, FBLA Middle Level was founded in 1994 for students in fifth through ninth grade.

A proponent of the same mentality that supports the incorporation of all ages of students in FBLA was 19th century businessman John Adriance.

He said, “Educating and supporting our youth is the best way to invest in a prosperous future.”

Today, FBLA is the largest career student organization in the world, helping 230,000 students to pursue a career in business. This year, that group of future entrepreneurs includes students from LRHS.

The new FBLA members have a positive outlook and high expectations for things to come.

Ziemer explained, “I’m looking forward to experiencing something new and meeting new people at the events that we, as a chapter, will attend.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting new people and starting a new base for future FBLA members at LRHS,” Harder concluded.