FBLA students compete at state leadership conference
A group of FBLA students from RCHS who competed and placed at the State Leadership Conference in Vail. At the conference, students from all over Colorado attended leadership workshops and competed in business related events.
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Janna Robinett
Fifty-six Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students from Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) competed at the three-day State Leadership Conference in Vail in April. Students from all over Colorado attended leadership workshops and competed in business-related events in hopes of qualifying for the national conference. For the RCHS students, 18 placed in the top five of their events, eight won first place, and four qualified to attend the FBLA national conference in June in Anaheim, California.
Castle Pines resident Jack Gebhardt won first place, along with Avnish Asthana and William Kong, for the public service announcement (PSA) event in which they created a message to inform people about the safety and security of recreational drones. Gebhardt said, “State this year was a great experience for me and my team! It was fun to get to spend time with my friends in Vail, competing and attending business-focused seminars. I can’t wait for nationals; it will be really fun to interact with FBLA members from around the United States!”
Claire Zahorik, also a Castle Pines resident, won first place in the job interview category. Zahorik prepared a resume and cover letter and competed in a mock interview. “I practiced interviewing with friends and family leading up to districts and state, which prepared me for possible questions I might get asked. This event was great experience for future jobs I will be applying for, and it also helped me with my public speaking skills,” said Zahorik.
Zahorik, who qualified to go to nationals, has been a member of FBLA for four years and claims it has helped her learn about the business world. “Being an officer in FBLA for three years has taught me leadership skills that I hope to use in the future. Next year, I will be attending the University of Oklahoma studying marketing and management. Without the RCHS business program, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I’m so excited to apply my experiences and knowledge next year at OU,” Zahorik said.
To donate to the RCHS FBLA program to help students attend nationals in June, contact FBLA adviser Janna Robinett at janna.robinett@dcsdk12.org.
