Odessa FBLA teams place in top 10

ODESSA – In early July, 34 members of Odessa High School's Future Business Leaders of America chapter competed in several categories at the 2022 National Leadership Conference in Chicago, where more than 15,000 students competed in approximately 100 events.

Four Odessa teams of three or four students each brought home national awards. Odessa competed in 10 events and made it to the finals in four. All four placed in the top 10.

The Partnership-with-a-Business team of Emily Scrupps, Jacob Scrupps and Nathan Carstensen was first in the nation, competing against more than 75 other schools. They presented the chapter's "Project 100 Years," which focused on forming a partnership with home-improvement company Lowe's for the purpose of improving the Old Town Hall to make it safer and more functional for the community and for sharing Lowe's good works with the nation.

As a result of the partnership, the 100-year-old Old Town Hall now has new hardwood floors, a new retractable garage-style door to allow the two main-floor rooms to be opened up for larger events, new six-panel doors, new appliances in the kitchen and new sheetrock, a fresh coat of paint. The original tin ceiling was also restored.

Second-place honors went to two teams.

The American Enterprise Project team of Kaytlyn Shafer, Yvette Davey, Holden Iverson and Levi Hardung presented "Project Boom," to enlighten students and the community to new business opportunities for "homepreneurs," those who choose to run a home-based business. They worked with the fifth- and eighth-grade classes in the Odessa school district, teaching them about homepreneurs in the American enterprise system, how to write a business plan and guiding them to create three products sold through online platforms commonly used by homepreneurs: "Funny Bunnies", a wood bunny, for Etsy, "Superb Herb Gardens" for farmer's markets and "Dippin' Sticks," cookies shaped like French fries with caramel dipping sauce, for Gold Belly.

The Broadcast Journalism team of Sean Widger, Mackenzie Lutz and Dakota Steward also won second place competing against more than 100 teams in the preliminary rounds and 14 teams in the finals. "This team of freshmen and sophomores gave the performance of a lifetime with five news stories they wrote, produced and created all visuals for in a seven-minute presentation," FBLA advisor Terri King said. "With precision and perfect timing, they featured a business story on the dangers of Apple Airpods aided by expert guest, now-retired Lincoln County Undersheriff Kelly Watkins, featured a diversity story on the Old Town Hall remodel featuring the SAIL exercise class (for senior citizens), conducted a "mock" live interview with Odessa football coach Jeff Nelson for a sports segment and gave a weather report."

Grace Nelson, Melloney Deife, and Daeton Deife placed eighth with their Local Chapter Annual Business Report. This 15-page report and seven-minute presentation summarized all of the chapter's activities, listing participation in the many national FBLA requirements, as well as state and local activities.

The Business Plan team of Collin Martin, Zach Claassen and Gage Starkel wrote and presented a business plan for Raging Waters, a pontoon boat rental service.

The Digital Video Production team of Casen Watson, Bo Walter and Lily Starkel made a video inspired by their German heritage, "How to Make Bratwurst" (available on the Odessa HS FBLA YouTube channel).

Odessa's Community Service Project team of Ashlyn Neilsen, Corbyn Neilsen and Chloe Winkler wrote a report and shared "December to Remember." This project consisted of nine activities completed during December to bring joy and happiness to Odessa residents, including a toy drive, a senior citizen Christmas party and putting up Christmas lights at the nursing home. With community donations and $2,000 from Lowe's, they also played secret Santa, assisted five local families by replacing nine broken windows, purchasing area rugs and a space heater, providing supplies for local contractor Phillip Littlejohn to build a wheelchair ramp, bought and built a pantry and purchased and installed a new dishwasher.

Viet Tran, Chloe Winkler and Emily Scrupps took on the challenge of a new FBLA event, Data Analysis to analyze data and make predictions about the future of new-home construction.

The Graphic Design team of Reegan Carstensen, Kathryn Burnette, and Zane Hamper-Rosman created a design concept for a men's clothing store with a focus on millennials who love the great outdoors.

The Introduction to Business Presentation team of Hayden Schuh, Chad Strebeck and Jared Valverde sought to identify the business practices from the pandemic that should continue in a post-pandemic workforce with regard to collaboration, location and communication.

Odessa FBLA members Emily Scrupps, Nathan Carstensen and Jacob Scrupps, along with adviser Terri King, gave a presentation at two Lead4Change sessions for all FBLA members and advisers. They shared how Lead4Change is integrated into all chapter activities and described the success the chapter has experienced as a result of training all members in the leadership program. Drew Hardung, Laela Hardung, Landen Brooks, and Hayden Miller assisted in the exhibition booth.

The week in Chicago was action-packed. Students spent a day at Six Flags with the Washington State FBLA, followed by a full schedule of activities anytime there was a break in the conference, including an architecture cruise, a visit to the Skydeck in Willis (Sears) tower, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Grant Park, Millennial Park and the Bean, shopping on Michigan Avenue, a Chicago Cubs game and a tour of Wrigley Field.