Students compete, succeed at FBLA Regional Conference

Lind-Ritzville High School (LRHS) Future Business Leaders of American (FBLA) chapter competed successfully at the Northeast FBLA Winter Regional Conference in Spokane on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

Seventeen LRHS students joined the group of 5,000 students across the state competing in regional contests.

Two students and three teams from LRHS placed in the top six in their respective competitions at the Regional Conference, qualifying them to compete at the FBLA State Leadership Conference this April.

Individuals advancing to the state level include Grace Greenwalt, with a first place finish in Sales Presentations, and Emily Rosen, with a second place finish in Agribusiness.

LRHS teams that placed at the Regional Conference include the Hospitality Management Team, comprised of Yaeger, Katheran Gingrich, as well as the Banking and Financial Systems Team, with Aimee Laufer and Diamond Spain.

The Parliamentary Procedures team, with Chapter President Jack Anderson, Secretary Aaliyah Yaeger, Treasurer Greenwalt, Parliamentary Officer Cole Cameron, and Public Relations Officer Madison Melcher, earned second place at Regionals and will also advance to state.

There are over seventy events available for students to prepare and compete in, all aiming to build “leadership skills that are in high demand in the workplace,” Washington’s FBLA website reported.

Students have the opportunity to choose events that prepare them for potential future careers.

Laufer explained, “I chose to compete in Business Law because law has always been a huge interest of mine and something that I want to pursue as a career.”

Similarly, Spencer Miller said, “I have both an interest in agriculture and international relations/businesses.”

Having competed in the Agribusiness event and on a Global Business Team, he continued, “They both seemed to be right up my alley.”

For Gingrich, competing in Hospitality Management and researching topics within the hotel and travel industry, her motivation was to expand her horizons.

“I wanted to try something new,” she said.

Either way, preparation was a necessary component for success.

Greenwalt explained, “To prepare for [Sales Presentations], I did a lot of research on my product and wrote up and memorized a script.”

After practicing her presentation multiple times prior to the event, she adds, “I was more prepared for it.”

Rachel Nygren, who worked in a team alongside Spencer and Ellie Gering in the Entrepreneurship competition, said, “We were able to be successful by spending extra time out of school studying the topics.”

Her team placed in a three-way tie for fifth at the Regional Conference, officially earning seventh place, just shy of qualifying for state.

The Hospitality Management team used tests from previous years and online flashcards to prepare.

“Mr. (Steve) Greenwalt did a great job of gathering tests for the team to study and prepare,” explains Moore of the club’s adviser.

Even students whose preparations did not lead them to qualify for the State Conference benefited from competing.

Spencer Gering, also a member of a Sports and Entertainment team that earned 13th place (of approximately 30 teams), said, “The branches of FBLA prepare students for countless numbers of future careers. There are many jobs that require experience in business, marketing, and accounting that are needed today.”

Nygren added, “These experiences are preparing me to succeed in the business world and helping me develop strong team and communication skills.”

“In my first year of FBLA,” explains Rosen, “it has taught me to have confidence in trying something new. I think [competing] helped me prepare for my future by showing me that I have a knack for what I competed in, and that it can be a future career path.”

For qualifying students, the Washington State Leadership Conference will be April 4-7 in Bellevue.

However, the effects of FBLA can be seen in all of its members: Spain reflected, “FBLA is helping me because it’s teaching me more about business and what it takes to be successful.”