Searcy, AR. (LP) — Searcy High School offers many valuable and beneficial clubs to their students. One of these particular clubs is Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). FBLA offers the students an opportunity to be assisted in becoming the potential business leaders of the future. “I joined FBLA because I want to be an entrepreneur and I thought FBLA would help me get a taste of the business world,” explains Meredith Allen, a sophomore student in FBLA.
Recently, Searcy High’s FBLA members partook in online competitions. They were given different topics to choose to test on that revolved around the idea of business. “I signed up for the agribusiness competition which required me to take a 100 question test within an hour,” says high school junior and FBLA member, Gwenyth Schowe.
Other club members went through the same testing process. After the results of the tests came in, FBLA clubs from around the central Arkansas area gathered for an FBLA conference. This year’s conference was held at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Searcy students weren’t required to go, but had the chance to travel the hour drive and attend this annual conference. Here, members were to find out their testing scores and see if they had qualified to place. Not only do students discover their results and recognize others who do so as well, they also got to experience the installations of the new District 5 officers, listen to keynote speakers to give them a better insight of the business field, and watch a talent show that the conference puts on.
Out of the numerous FBLA members who attended the conference, three Searcy High School students were able to place in their testing category. “I managed to get sixth place in agribusiness. It came as a surprise to me considering I didn’t study very much for it, so I was proud,” states Schowe.
These students who placed are now able to attend the state convention that will take place in the month of April.
Overall, the students who attended this year’s conference appreciated the experience. Some even loved getting to know more about where the conference was held. “My favorite part of the FBLA conference was the location. It gave me an insight on a college kid’s life,” explains Allen.
While some FBLA members placed and others didn’t, in the end, they all went home more knowledgeable in a topic they all enjoy learning and studying more about.
