Fleetwood’s FBLA chapter is 8th best in PA

“It was a really great learning experience, and it was also really fun,” junior Amanda Meck said.

Twenty-five members of Fleetwood’s FBLA club attended the 2015 State Leadership Conference held in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

“In order to compete in states, I had to place first in public speaking at regionals,” Meck said.

At the conference, the Fleetwood Chapter was recognized as an Outstanding Chapter for the 2014-2015 school year. This award is also known as the William Selden Outstanding Chapter Award. To receive this distinction, the chapter must complete many activities aimed at the goals of the Future Business Leaders of America. Along with this, they had to submit all the corresponding paperwork to the state office. Only 10 out of 250+ chapters across the state received this top honor.

“It was a great experience! It was a lot of fun, and I got to spend time with my friends,” junior Max Vogel said.

Fleetwood was also awarded with 1st place in community service hours, known as the Big 33. The members of Fleetwood’s FBLA Chapter logged over 9,000 hours of service. The Chapter also received second place for their Local Business Report, which was prepared by senior member Amanda Kaskey.

Multiple individual students were rewarded, and multiple groups received recognition for their accomplishments.

Senior Gabe Kotsch received the Membership Recruitment Award. Fleetwood swept up the competition for community service hours with Ying Ling in fifth, Harry Zheng in second, and Joann Zheng in first. Amanda Meck was awarded with sxith place in Public Speaking II. In Accounting II, Joe Kinek won ninth.

“My event is basically based on the types of communication related to business and some grammar rules. The event’s purpose is basically [to teach you] the rules to ensuring efficient communication in the workplace,” Vogel said.

“I was happy to get sixth, but at the same time I was upset with myself because I had messed up my speech. I know that I could have done better,” Meck said.

Gabe Kotsch, Eleni Zahariadis, and Matt Masenheimer received fifth place for their Partnership with Business Project. The team of Ethan Miller, Brandon Stitzel, and Duncan Cahalan won seventh place for their Community Service Project. Joann Zheng, April Aftandilov, and Harry Zheng received tenth place in Global Business.

“Since I can’t compete in public speaking again, I have an idea to try impromptu speaking! Also, right now we are working on a community service project and hope to make nationals with that next year as well,” Meck said.

Max Vogel received fourth place in Business Communication. Junior Max Vogel has qualified to go to the FBLA National Leadership Conference. This summer in Chicago, Illinois, Max will be representing Fleetwood at this Conference. In order for Max to compete in nationals, he had to take a test and earn one of the four highest scores in the state.

“I was in disbelief when I found out, and it didn’t really hit me until later. But I’m honored to represent our school in Chicago,” Vogel said.