TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Future business leaders competed in the state’s largest business student competition in Topeka, Kan.
More than 1,700 high school and middle school students came together on Thursday, April 4 at the Stormont Vail Events Center and the Hotel Topeka at City Center for the Future Business Leaders of America’s – or FBLA – 72nd annual conference.
Students competed in events, like problem-solving, interviews, presentations, objective tests and public speaking. The top four winners in each of the 78 business and technology events will have a chance to compete at the FBLA’s national conference from June 29 to July 2 in Orlando, FL.
More than 120 career professionals from around the state judged and evaluated the competitors to not only decide who qualifies to represent Kansas at nationals but to help better the students competing in the events. 13′s Melissa Brunner and David Oliver were in attendance to assist with judging the competitions.
“I think we as advisors,” said Connie Lindell, state adviser for Kansas FBLA. “We see the potential in students and then we just nurture that and sometimes push them but, you know, a lot of times we are the ones that see that, and just kind of motivate them to embrace those skills that they can take into life when they grow up and graduate.”
State adviser Connie Lindell says other aspects members can learn from FBLA include leadership skills, teamwork, and building confidence.
The members also had the opportunity to elect the 2024-2025 Kansas FBLA State officer team.
The elected members will create by-law policy recommendations, develop work for next year’s program, and represent FBLA at several organizational events throughout the year.
The officers will also try to obtain a $150 corporate sponsorship for each first-place winner in each event to help decrease the financial cost of competing nationally. Right now, 58 sponsors have been secured out of 78 needed.
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Source: Future business leaders compete in state’s largest business student competition in Topeka
