Central Columbia High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) had a very successful representation of 15 student members attending the National Leadership Conference/Competition held in Nashville, Tennessee. Emily Wolfe attended as an FBLA State Officer—Vice President at Large; student competitors placing in the top FOUR in the nation and receiving monetary scholarships are: first row: Domenic D’Ambrosio, Andy Koch, Matt Hess—Entrepreneurship Team placing SECOND in the nation; back row: Jessica Snyder, Jacob Osborne, Megan Bien—Business Financial Plan Team placing FIRST in the nation; Megan Willie, Adam Folk, Kim Kashner—Business Ethics team placing FOURTH in the nation. Other competitors included Jenny Shi, Laura O’Donnell, Christina Benson, Isaac Burnett, and Austin Klinger, members of the Parliamentary Procedures team.

Approximately10,000 attended the conference where student competitors advanced through regional and state competition.

Students have the opportunity to participate in numerous individual, team, chapter, and recognition events as part of the competitive events program. In most cases, competitive events begin on the region level. Qualifiers then advance to the state conference and possibly to the National Leadership Conference. The competitive events program allows members to demonstrate and validate their mastery of essential business concepts, skills, and knowledge. The program has been correlated to the Business Education Curriculum Standards published by the National Business Education Association and the national career clusters.

Attendees could select from over 80 awesome workshops including leadership, competition, chapter management, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, community service, professionalism,communication, career success.

In Pennsylvania, competitive events are offered in each of the state’s 28 regions in December or January, and each region’s winners advance to the State Leadership Conference in April. Winners of the events held at the State Leadership Conference are eligible to represent Pennsylvania at the National Leadership Conference in July.

Competitive events are divided into four categories: (1) individual events; (2) team events; (3) chapter events; and (4) recognition events.

There are over 250,000 active members in over 12,000 chartered chapters in 50 states, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S. Territories, and Department of Defense Dependent Schools worldwide. In Pennsylvania, there are approximately 286 active FBLA chapters organized into 28 different regions with nearly 13,500 members.

Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational association of student members preparing for careers in business or who are just simply interested in learning more about the free enterprise system. The national association has three divisions: FBLA for high school students, PBL for postsecondary students, and a Professional Division for others who would like to affiliate with the association. The FBLA concept was developed in 1937 by Dr. Hamden L. Forkner of Columbia University. In the fall of 1940, official sponsorship of FBLA was accepted by the National Council for Business Education; and on February 3, 1942, the first high school chapter was organized in Johnson City, Tennessee. The Pennsylvania State Chapter of FBLA was founded in 1952.

The first high school chapter in Pennsylvania was organized at Blairsville High School in March 1943.

FBLA-PBL provides innovative leadership development programs to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship. Participation in FBLA-PBL can have a direct impact on the direction and success of a young person’s career. Millions of students have learned through active membership in FBLA-PBL about the world of business and what is expected of them in the workplace. Organizational goals include: * develop competent, aggressive business leadership * strengthen the confidence of students in themselves and their work * create more interest in and understanding of American business enterprise * encourage members in the development of individual projects which contribute to the home, business, and community * develop character, prepare for useful citizenship, and foster patriotism * encourage and practice efficient money management * encourage scholarship and promote school loyalty * assist students in the establishment of occupational goals * facilitate the transition from school to work

MEMBERSHIP

There are over 250,000 active members in over 12,000 chartered chapters in 50 states, Puerto Rico,Virgin Islands, U.S. Territories, and Department of Defense Dependent Schools worldwide. In Pennsylvania, there are approximately 286 active FBLA chapters organized into 28 different regions with nearly 13,500 members. Our mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs.