Wright City FBLA sending 33 to state competition

Adam Rollins, Staff Writer
Posted 3/30/23

Wright City High School is sending 33 competitors to the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Convention in Springfield this April, after a successful showing at a district-level event …

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Wright City FBLA sending 33 to state competition

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Wright City High School is sending 33 competitors to the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Convention in Springfield this April, after a successful showing at a district-level event earlier this semester.

FBLA is a nationwide high school program that teaches skills in leadership, organizational management and community engagement. Each year, students get to demonstrate what they’ve learned at district-, state-, and national-level conventions where their knowledge and skills are tested in different types of competitions. 

This year’s district level convention was at Montgomery County High School. Students competed in categories involving presentation, written tests, and timed skills tests, all connected in some way to business-related skills.

Faculty sponsor Amanda Bair said 33 students are moving up to the state-level convention at Missouri State University in Springfield on April 16-18. Bair commented that these conventions and other FBLA activities are opportunities to develop valuable real-world skills.

“This is helping with organizational skills, time management skills, and leadership,” Bair noted. “These students realize how much it takes to study for these tests and prepare for these events, and that helps them prepare for whatever they want to do in the future and apply those skills.”

The state convention also offers opportunities for educational workshops and networking, all of which combine to create a rewarding experience.

“I look forward to meeting new people and sharing experiences. I especially like meeting people who are competing in the same event as me,” commented FBLA member Tayla Payne. “(And) it’s very rewarding working on a project or studying hard for a test, and then you get recognized for your hard work. Someone is recognizing that you are taking the time to put it toward something important in your life.”

However, Payne noted that earning that achievement also requires working through the stress and nervousness of being individually judged during the competition.

Laura Fontenot, the Wright City FBLA president, said students have succeeded by learning how to go into competitions with the mindset that they will succeed. She commented that she’s grateful for the combination of networking and skill building that FBLA events have offered.

“With FBLA I’ve been able to meet new people and learn about public speaking. And the leadership skills you gain are skills that I use,” Fontenot said.

“The best thing out of these conferences are the networking opportunities,” agreed Mo Lesmes, who has previously attended the national FBLA convention. “I have met people that I talk to all the time, and people that help me, who I look up to, and I will probably talk to for the rest of my life.” 

Bair, the faculty sponsor, commented that enthusiasm from these up-and-coming students has been accompanied by a large growth in enrollment with the program, from just a dozen students two years ago to over 60 this year.

The Wright City FBLA Chapter also received a special recognition this year, earning the title of Gold Level Chapter of the Year from the state FBLA organization. That came from organizing a number of school and community service events, along with a long list of other requirements. Achieving that recognition was a project that was managed by club member Izabelle Campbell.

“The time management was a lot, because there’s a lot of things you have to do,” Campbell explained. She said she had to learn how to effectively delegate tasks to other members in order to receive the recognition. But completing the requirements also involved a lot of fulfilling opportunities, such as doing a small business tour at Pumpkins Galore and hosting a career day with the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

Wright City High School, FBLA

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