Over 400 FBLA students from California competed at the 75th annual FBLA National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, CA. California FBLA students placed first in the nation in the following subjects:

Introduction to Information Technology
Business Calculations
Advertising
Business Law
Partnership with Business Project
Entrepreneurship
Future Business Leader
Management Information Systems
Cyber Security
Networking Concepts
Public Speaking I
Securities and Investments

While competing is the primary reason for going to a national conference, a big part of the experience at this event was the personal connection between students and their friends and their FBLA Chapter Advisers. Teacher-adviser’s do their best in the classroom to teach their students in many business, technology, and design subject areas and then support them as they show others what they have learned and what they can do. Excitement, congratulatory handshakes and hugs, and expressions of joy abounded during the closing awards ceremony.

Highlights of the event for me included seeing a blind student from another state won recognition in the Cyber Security category event. Students from across the United States and from FBLA Chapters in China, Haiti and the US Virgin Islands came to California and enjoyed the warm welcomes, the sunny weather… and Disneyland! I was proud to see Myra Cheng, a student from Lynbrook High School in San Jose, CA, elected to national office for a second time.

The incoming California FBLA student officers this year have set a goal to establish new FBLA chapters at the middle school level to serve students in ways that will better prepare them for their high school experience. The California FBLA Board of Directors recently approved a proposal to develop a K-12 alignment of schools which emphasize leadership skills to address students’ social-emotional and 21st Century skills development.

Working Together Everyone Accomplishes More!

~ Gary Page, California FBLA State Adviser