On Tuesday, January 28, 36 members of the newly formed Decorah High School FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) traveled to NICC’s Calmar campus to compete at the District Leadership Conference. The conference included workshops, a keynote speaker, networking activities, and competitive events. In live presentation events, Decorah students came home with three first place finishes and five second place honors.  In objective test events, 18 students placed first, 11 placed second, seven came in third, and seven finished in fourth place.  All of these entries qualify for the state-level competition at the Iowa FBLA State Leadership Conference, held in Cedar Rapids from March 30-April 1.

To prepare for state competition, students will take the judges’ feedback to polish their events further. Those who place in the top four in each event at the state level will qualify to compete at the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California on June 29-July 2.

DHS FBLA adviser and business teacher Alyssa Marso commented, “I am so impressed by DHS students’ enthusiasm to participate in FBLA! Many of our chapter’s members have very busy schedules – between other school activities, athletics, and working. The students not only joined a new student organization, committing to attending monthly meetings, but also put in a lot of time and energy outside of school hours to develop their projects and presentations. I am very proud of this great group of students!”

At the district contest, the live presentation first place winners include Kelby Kerndt, Addy Lukes-Smith, and McKenzie Tollefson in Broadcast Journalism; Hunter Quandahl in Client Service; and Keaton Riehle in Introduction to Business Presentation. Those earning second place are Oliver Bollinger, Ian Giddings, and Mitchell Stemper in Digital Video Production and Data Analysis; Sara Johanningmeier, Addy Lukes-Smith, and Ellie Rolfs in Graphic Design; Jaidyn Duvel, Sophia Fahey, and Savannah O’Reilly in both Social Media Strategies and in Website Design.

Many Decorah FBLA members also participated in objective test events at the district level. Winning first place include Max Grimstad in Banking & Financial Systems; Mitchell Stemper in Business Management and Organizational Leadership; Bryce Elsbernd in Computer Problem Solving; Brynnah Hanson in both Entrepreneurship and Hospitality & Event Management; Brayden Miculinich in Future Business Leader and Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure; Sophia Fahey in Healthcare Administration; Kahri Oberbroeckling in both Introduction to Business Communication and in Introduction to Event Planning; Kennadi Schuman in Introduction to FBLA; Keaton Riehle in Introduction to Financial Math; Addy Lukes-Smith in Marketing; Hunter Quandahl in Parliamentary Procedure;  Jaidyn Duvel in Personal Finance; Jackson Pipho in Securities & Investments; and Ian Giddings in Sports & Entertainment Management. 

Those earning a second place include Hunter Quandahl in Agribusiness; Jace Buddenberg in Banking & Financial Systems; Jackson Pipho in Entrepreneurship; Savannah O’Reilly in Healthcare Administration; Addy Lukes-Smith in Hospitality & Event Management;  Keaton Riehle in Introduction to Business Communication; Erika Valdez in Introduction to Event Planning; Gavin Luzum in Introduction to Financial Math; Max Grimstad in Securities & Investments; Oliver Bollinger in Sports & Entertainment Management; and Austin Helgerson in Supply Chain Management.  

Third place winners include Bryan Ajzac in Accounting I; Austin Helgerson in Accounting II; Brynnah Hanson in Business Communications; Grant Remington in Business Management; Jenna Leuenberger in Introduction to Business Communication; Dak Sabin in Personal Finance; and Keaton Nalean-Carlson in Sports & Entertainment Management.

The following placed fourth at the competition: Gavin Luzum in Accounting I; Kelby Kerndt in   Entrepreneurship; Jaidyn Duvel in Hospitality & Event Management; Kennadi Schuman in both Introduction to Business Communication and Introduction to Marketing Concepts; Savannah O’Reilly in Personal Finance and Cashton Riehle in Sports & Entertainment Management.

Other students who participated in district competitive events include McKinley Massman, Andrew Olson, Hunter Matthews, Stella Pole, Sydney Thompson, and Jasera Tweten.

Per Iowa law, all secondary career and technical education (CTE) programs are required to offer a recognized Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) by the start of the academic year 2024-25. Through the agriculture science program, Decorah’s FFA has been in existence since 1937. Along with FBLA through the business department, the other strands of the Decorah High School CTE have also started CTSOs. Human Services offers FCCLA and SkillsUSA for students active in the Applied Sciences, Technology, Engineering, & Manufacturing program. 

The FBLA website states: “FBLA inspires and prepares students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.”  Many thanks go out to practice “consultants” who helped students prepare for competition, including from Decorah Bank, Jessie Joyner and Bethany Stock; from the Chamber of Commerce, Jessica Rilling and Hannah Tulgren; from Winneshiek County Development, Maddie Putnam-Keck; and from Reset Iowa/Mill Street Mocha/Sugar Bowl, Brittany Todd.