FBLA Shines at Districts

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members begin prepping their presentations for FBLA districts & state as the competitions approach.

FBLA is a business club for students to learn about basic, everyday skills that they can use in the workplace. Braden Booth (11) listed that FBLA members learn to, “give speeches, organize events, compete with business skills and knowledge, and interact with other FBLA members who all bring unique abilities to the club.”

In FBLA, Lauren Thomlinson (11) is the Club Secretary. Her main job is to organize their club folder and to create and hand out permission slips, plus any other membership/reminder forms. Along with that, Andrew Faubion (12) is currently holding the position of Director of Marketing; he runs the social media accounts. He also makes sure to spread the word of any up-and-coming events.

FBLA districts took place on Monday, February 14th. Faubion explained, “To go to districts and state means that you have chosen a specific test or event to take such as a roleplay or business presentation. If you place, you are placing top five in the district, consisting of schools like Strafford and Bolivar. If you place normally in the top two of your event, you move on to compete in state.”

The overall preparation for districts is pretty extensive. The students have to write out their speech or presentation depending on what category they are in. Then they have to practice it continuously along with creating all of their visual aids to go along with your presentation. Braden Booth (11) shared, “Going to Districts is cool, and it’s a great opportunity to prove what you can do at any number of different events.” He continued to elaborate, “State, however, means you’re already one of the best and allows you to go on and compete with an elite group.”

The overall scores the FBLA team had received were Kyle Fritts (12), placing 3rd in advertising, Braden Booth (11), and Christain Allen (11), placing 2nd in data analysis. Booth had gotten 3rd in job interview and 1st in securities and investment. Allen got 2nd in securities and investment 1st in personal finance. Brock Bruner (9) and Kyle Fritts received 4th place in entrepreneurship. Lauren Thomlinson (11) placed 4th in help desk and 7th in organizational leadership, which had led to her qualifying for state. Ben Barton (11) placed 5th in intro to IT while Madison Rode (9) placed 3rd in impromptu speaking. Emma Padgett (9) and Reese Wells (9) got 2nd in publication design. Josh Orr (12) and Andrew Faubion (12) had placed 3rd in sports and entertainment management. Many of FBLA’s members received high placings in their categories.