KHS FBLA racks up medals

Future Business Leaders of America is the largest and oldest business student organization in the world.

The Kaiserslautern High School FBLA chapter attended the state leadership conference in Garmisch, Germany, from March 6 to 9. FBLA adviser Debra Hipes, a teacher at Kaiserslautern High School and president of the board of advisers for Future Business Leaders of America-Europe, took 20 KHS students to the annual FBLA State Leadership Conference to compete in a variety of events. Like the previous year, much to her credit, every student who participated and competed brought home a medal.

In total, the KHS FBLA chapter brought home 43 medals, nine of which were first place gold medals. Bringing home the most medals for KHS were Danielle Holland, Victoria Dropps and Rebecca Ford with four medals, followed by Jayrett Mason, Ryan Parkinson, Tiffany Ford and Sharon Valverde Vargas with three medals. The honor of most first prize medals went to Victoria Dropps, who brought home two gold medals.

Chris Jastrab, Tiffany Ford and Jana Cain, who were on the FBLA student state board, also played key roles helping organize the entire conference.  Additionally, Valverde Vargas and Holland were selected to join the FBLA student state board for the 2013 conference.

The annual state leadership conference, better known as the SLC, is held at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. It fosters the development of basic business skills. It will help students interested in studying business succeed in college and future careers. This year’s theme was “Building Bridges.” Throughout the conference students are able to attend workshops or compete in competitive events. The competitive events range from individual skills, such as public speaking, business ethics and marketing, to larger team events, such as developing a business plan and the Virtual Business Challenge.

The Kaiserslautern High School FBLA chapter is open to all KHS students. Participating students attend meetings, fundraise, participate in club activities and, of course, prepare for the annual state leadership conference. Also, being a member of FBLA helps students build a resume that can help land business related scholarships.

(Courtesy of the Kaiserslautern High School Future Business Leaders of America)