In this decade one of the most useful skills to acquire is leadership. Being able to harness good leadership skills opens an abundance of doors for careers and networking opportunities.
GRC students have found their way into a club that gives them an opportunity to jumpstart these skills.
FBLA or Future Business Leaders of America, is a career student organization equipped to teach students skills they will use life long.
Club sponsor Elizabeth Scioneaux tells us more about the unique opportunities presented within the club.
“Some of the things we do involve building leadership skills in students. They have opportunities to go to conferences and network with students around the state and across the US if we make it to a larger conference,” she says. “We mostly focus on building leadership and encouraging students to be successful citizens.”
A big part of what the students do include activities not only inside the walls of GRC but also within our community.
“We focus on getting in our community, whether that means partnering with local businesses to do things or community service events. We try to get out in the community and be a part of it,” says Ms. Scioneaux.
This past month, GRC’s FBLA had the opportunity to attend multiple levels of conferences including the State conference in Louisville. They were able to be involved in a variety of competitions. (See region and state results below.)
“There’s tons of competitions for kids to be a part of. They can either do objective tests, or they can do a presentation,” says Ms. Scioneaux. “This year we had students taking tests in health care administration, agribusiness, and marketing. I had students compete in presentation events such as job interview; public speaking where they’ll get seven minutes to prepare a speech on something and then present it to the judges.”
The students are able to learn both soft and hard skills throughout the competition and the preparation regardless of placement.
“We’ll go over interview techniques and questions they need to be prepared for, simply networking and getting outside of their comfort zones,” says Ms. Scioneaux. “Whenever we go to a conference, I’m not holding their hands. They have to go to breakout sessions, and meet and greet other students.”
Being sponsor of the club doesn’t always just mean being the teacher. It involves relationship building with the students and Scioneaux has experienced that first hand.
“My favorite part about all of it is just getting to build those closer-knit relationships with the students,” says Ms. Scioneaux. “Some of my officer team started out very quiet, very timid, and now they’re running for roles like vice president of state. Our parliamentarian just got the regional parliamentarian title. I just love seeing the students grow and really step into becoming a leader in their school and in their community.”
FBLA Region Winners
1st Place:
Bryce Boland – Intro. to FBLA
Annah Wilson – Virtual Scrapbook & Eugene H. Smith Scholarship
2nd Place:
Elijah Baker – Accounting 1
Olivia Houston – Journalism
Katie Dreusicke – Organizational Leadership
3rd Place:
Wanputt “Jajah” Tangphinigkul – Word Processing
Annah Wilson – Public Speaking
4th Place:
Candace Boyd – Business Communications
Cameron Turley – Job Interview
Cameron Turley was elected Regional Parliamentarian.
Mrs. Scioneaux received the FBLA Advisor Rising Star Award and was nominated for Outstanding Advisor.
The chapter as a whole received the Silver Banner (2nd place) for Local Leadership Challenges (challenges to complete each quarter).
FBLA State Winners
Olivia Houston placed 3rd in Journalism
Katie Dreusicke placed 4th in Organizational Leadership
Bryce Boland placed 5th in Intro. to FBLA
(1st-5th qualifies for Nationals in Anaheim, CA)
