Future Business Leaders of America qualify for state

Somebody has to lead the future of American business, and some of those somebodies could be Lake Roosevelt students in the after-school club called Future Business Leaders of America, which is sending four to a state competition.

The club, led by staff members Susan Duclos and Stacy Davis, has 10 members, four of whom went to a regional FBLA competition in Wenatchee on Jan. 21 and qualified for the state competition in April in Bellevue, Washington.

"The club's mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs," Duclos said.

At the competition, club member Lillie LaPlace earned first place in both the Global Business and Help Desk categories, and third in Entrepreneurship; Alan Nordine earned third place in both the Health Care Administration and the Help Desk categories; Brianna Whybark took fourth in Securities & Investments and fifth in Economics; and Taylor Holeman took fourth in Sales Presentation.

"The students experience real-life situations during the competitions (while dressing the part), gain public-speaking confidence, learn to be self-motivated and leaders within their chosen areas of expertise," Duclos said. "The students are given rules and guidelines for three or four of the more than 50 categories of FBLA competitive events. From there, they prepare themselves for the competitions, some of which are online tests, performances and/or reports."

Duclos said that the club does a lot of fundraising to help pay for the competitions, such as selling $5 raffle tickets for a four-course dinner for six, prepared by "Chef Patty Davis," at their home. Raffle tickets can be purchased from Stacy Davis or Susan Duclos.