FBLA students headed to state competition
Pictured are the students from RHS who will be attending the FBLA State Leadership Conference April 17-18 in Birmingham. Front row (L to R): Lauren Alford, Morgan Hovater, Macy Reeves and Stephanie Monterroso. Back row (L to R): Chase Holland, Chris Hill, Louis Monterroso, Charles Gordon and J.J. McCormick.
For years, county and city students who are members of the Future Business Leaders of America organization have represented their schools at the annual FBLA state competition.
This week, a group of students from Russellville High School and the Franklin County Career Technical Center will once again head to Birmingham to compete against students from across the state in 57 written and oral competitions at the FBLA State Leadership Conference on April 17-18.
RHS will have nine business students who will represent their chapter in the following events: Lauren Alford, Word Processing; Morgan Hovater, Spreadsheet Applications; Macy Reeves, Public Speaking I; Stephanie Monterroso, Word Processing; Chase Holland, Public Speaking II; Chris Hill, Word Processing; Louis Monterroso, Accounting I; Charles Gordon, Website Development; and J.J. McCormick, Public Speaking I.
FCCTC will have six students competing in the following events: Nicole Borden, Intro to Business Communications; Alanis Welch, Business Math; Olivia Rice, Business Communications; Hannah Taylor, Business Communications; Emma Riley, Business Communications; and Mia Jackson, Healthcare Administration.
But organizers and sponsors of the conference have stressed that the event is not only a competition but also a chance for students to develop leadership and career skills through seminars on financial literacy and potential careers, something that will be important to these students before they begin their college journey.
This year’s conference theme is “Excellence in Action,” and 1,300 students from 136 FBLA chapters across Alabama will attend the conference alongside 189 teachers/advisors.
During the conference, BBVA Compass, which is a sponsor of the conference, will hold a “Bank On It” seminar where students will hear from a BBVA Compass banker about careers in the banking and the finance industry, as well as the education and skills required for those types of jobs.
“We strongly believe it’s our duty to lend the bank’s financial and professional career expertise to the students of Birmingham and beyond,” said Melodi Morrissette, BBVA Compass’ director of community relations. “It’s hugely gratifying that our sponsorship of FBLA’s State Leadership Conference is giving these bright young minds the kind of information and insight they’ll need to build and protect their futures.”
The bank’s sponsorship will also bring Doug Horst, director of Gateway Financial Freedom (GFF), to present a seminar on “How to Get Through College without Going Broke.”
Horst will teach the college-bound teenagers about budgeting, basic money-management and how to avoid credit card debt.
“Our seminar will teach students to earn more than they spend even while in college,” Horst said. “It will be exciting to work with so many young people who want to join the Alabama business community. They will be off to a good start in their careers if they get out of college with little or no debt.”
At the conclusion of the conference, the top three students from each competition category will advance to the National FBLA conference in Nashville, which is slated for June 28-July 2 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Resort.
RHS FBLA sponsors are AnnaKay Holland, Susie Malone, and Deedra Moore. FCCTC FBLA sponsor is Doris Holderby.
