Over the past few days, members from FBLA attended the State Leadership Conference in Hershey Pennsylvania. Starting on Sunday, students were awake bright and early to board the bus with all of the other state qualifiers from the region.

Following the long bus ride, the team spent the rest of the day at Hershey Park. After the long day of fun, all 18 students were taken to Hershey Lodge to rest up and get ready for the long days of workshops, competitions, and networking opportunities ahead of them.

Some members completed objective tests for their events before the trip, and then awaited the results at the ceremony, while other competitors prepared presentations to deliver in front of a panel of judges as well as other spectators.

“You’ve got to to go blow the judges away on day one and make it out to the room to compete in finals” said Mr. Ellenberger to all of his presentation event competitors. And is exactly what needed to happen. On the first day of competition, the competitors had to place in the top 3 out of their room in order to compete in the finals round.

The team of Mollide Shadle, Mason Mantini, and Landon Cook competed on Monday in their events (Social Media Strategies) and qualified to compete for a second on Tuesday. Their presentation highlighted the ways they could use social media to raise awareness for food sacricity in the area, and how they could ultimately leave no child hungry.  As well as, the team of Camryn Sacco and Mollie Shadle in their event. (Sales Presentation) The presented a live demonstration of the product Scrub Daddy and through their charismatic humor, and exceptional speaking skills they were able to wow the judges and place themselves into the finals round.

Mackenzie Thomas also had a presentation event, broadcast journalism. Her event was a live newscast produced entirely by her. She presented on topics such as: the global semiconductor chip shortage, financial literacy, and Marion Center spring sports. As well including a prerecorded interview with Marion Center alum, Lilly Ryer about her experience at the 2022 National Leadership Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Unfortunately, did not qualify to perform a second time in the finals round, she put her “on-air” experience and interviewing skills to work during interviews in the lobby of Hershey Lodge.

The FBLA advisors on the trip Mr. Ellenberger, also known as “T Money” and Mrs. Usko went above and beyond to make sure that all of the students had the best experience. From the months of preparation ahead of time to the last minute pizza run that had to be made the first night the clube was at Hershy, the advisors undoubtly made trip one with remembering.

The award ceremony was the highlight of the trip, the part that everyone was waiting for. Under the lights at the Giant Center, the members sat patiently and waited to find out the results of their classmates and the new friends they made. Before the it started the students have fun seeing Twitter posts come up on the big screen. 

“Waiting for the results from my test was a little stressful, but waiting for the ceremony was worth it,” Cassidy States told Stinger News.

The team of Reagan Ryen and Becca Spence placed 8th in their performance event, Data Analysis.  Paul Smith placed 9th is his test event, UX Desgin, and Nicole Scott Placed 10th in Word Processing. Venecia Johnston, Camryn Sacco, and Maggie Shadle place first place in their respective events and qualified to compete at the National Leadership Conference in Atlanta over the summer.

“It just hasn’t really sunk in yet that I placed first. After  I took my test I was confident that  I would place in the top 10, but first place feels absolutely amazing.” Venecia Johsnton said in an interview.

Directly after returning from the stage with her first place plague, she made a call to former FBLA member, and 2022 spreadsheet applications state champion, Lilly Ryer. Johsnton was proud to show Ryer her first place award and told her that she was her inspiration for competing in the event.

The 2023 State Leadership Conference was a great success, and FBLA is proud to have so many members place in the top 10 and to have members traveling to Atlanta this summer!