Davenport FBLA to send 12 to nationals

DAVENPORT--18 of the High School's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members traveled to Spokane to compete in the Washington FBLA State Business Leadership Conference April 20-23.

Members competed in a wide range of events, from Public Service Announcement to Partnership with Business. Members dedicated several months of their time preparing for competition, as they developed goals and activities, completed projects, wrote reports, prepared and memorized presentations, and studied for tests.

At the conference, members not only competed in competitive events, but they had the opportunity to become inspired by several keynote speakers. The Awards of Excellence ceremony brought the conference to a close, as the chapter and members were recognized and awarded for their hard work.

12 of 18 members qualified for the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Chicago June 28-July 2.

The chapter once again was awarded the Gold Seal Chapter Award of Merit (received every year since 1978).

Kylee Buchanan and Allison Jorden took 3rd place in Local Chapter Annual Business Report, qualifying them to compete at the National Leadership Conference. The individuals that will be going in replace of these two seniors are Evan Gunning and Ally Slahtasky.

The group developed a formal report which showcased the FBLA activities the chapter has participated in throughout the year. The report included information about recruitment activities, career exploration and preparation, business partnerships, chapter fundraising, public relations activities, community service projects, as well as regional, state, and national conference recognition details.

Emma Cormier, Lexi Cormier and Jesse Raugust took second place in Partnership with Business for the project titled "Connecting the Community, One Donation at a Time," qualifying them to compete at the National Leadership Conference. This group partnered with the Davenport Care and Share. The partnerships goals were to expand advertising and knowledge about Care and Share and what they offer, fundraise for Care and Share's moving of location which was a total of $2,321 in two months, as well as create a new logo for Care and Share.

Individuals that competed and placed in testing events were the following:

Ally Slahtasky – State Champion and qualified for Nationals – Accounting II

Katelyn Bell – Ninth place – Accounting II

Cody Jenkins – Third place and qualified for Nationals in Health Care Administration – Eighth place – Political Science

Grayson Danekas – 10th place – Insurance and Risk Management

Indvidual/Team(s) that competed and placed in presentation events were the following:

Zackary Bruce and Danekas took first place in Business Financial Plan, qualifying them to compete at the National Leadership Conference. This group researched and developed a business financial plan for a work-from-home business. The name of their business is "Highlander Custom Apparel." Within the plan they had to research and identify the structure of their business, operations and management, target market and growth, as well as a financial plan.

Katelyn Bell, Samantha Odenrider and Selah Hupp took eighth place in Business Plan.

Zackary Bruce took third place in Data Analysis and qualified for the National Leadership Conference.

Ryan Utley took third place in E-Business and qualified for the National Leadership Conference.

Libby Swiger and Cady Zellmer made it to finals in Graphic Design.

Jenkins, Slahtasky, Swiger and Cady Zellmer participated in Parliamentary Procedure and took second place and qualified for the National Leadership Conference. Since Slahtasky qualified in another event for Nationals, Jason Schillinger will take her place at the National Leadership Conference.

The team of Gunning and Schillinger made it to finals in Public Service Announcement.

The team of Tessa Cormier and Hupp took 7th place in Public Service Announcement.

Utley made it to finals in Website Design.