From Sunday, March 30th to Tuesday, April 1st, 23 Decorah High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) state qualifiers attended and competed at the Iowa FBLA State Leadership Conference hosted at the Cedar Rapids Convention Complex.  The conference included competitive events, seminars, workshops, and many networking opportunities. The students’ hard work and preparation paid off: the team came home with ten national qualifiers and five state champions.  The DHS national qualifiers hope to represent the state of Iowa and compete at the FBLA National Leadership Conference, held in Anaheim, California, from June 29 to July 2.

At the state-level competition, first-place winners include Hunter Quandahl in Client Service; Oliver Bollinger and Ian Giddings in Digital Video Production; Mitchell Stemper in both Financial Statement Analysis and Organizational Leadership; and Austin Helgerson in Supply Chain Management.

Others earning a national qualifying spot in events include third place finishers Oliver Bollinger, Ian Giddings, and Mitchell Stemper in Data Analysis; and Jaidyn Duvel, Savannah O’Reilly, and Sophia Fahey in Website Design. Fourth place winners are Cashton Riehle in Client Service, Kelby Kerndt in Entrepreneurship, and Jackson Pipho in Financial Statement Analysis.

The top ten place winners in each competitive event were recognized during the awards ceremony, and DHS was well-represented. Earning a fifth-place finish were Kelby Kerndt, Addy Lukes-Smith, and McKenzie Tollefson in Broadcast Journalism. Seventh place finishers include Hunter Quandahl in Agribusiness; and Jenna Leuenberger, Kahri Oberbroeckling, and Keaton Riehle in Introduction to Social Media Strategies. Eighth place awards went to Erika Valdez in Introduction to Event Planning and Austin Helgerson and Cashton Riehle in Sports & Entertainment Management. Earning ninth place were Keaton Riehle in both Introduction to Business Presentation and Introduction to Business Communication, Dak Sabin in Personal Finance, and Jackson Pipho in Securities and Investments. Tenth place winners were Austin Helgerson in Accounting II and Jaidyn Duvel in Personal Finance.

Other students who attended the State Leadership Conference include Bryan Ajzac, Gavin Luzum, Brynnah Hanson, Grant Remington, Sara Johanningmeier, and Kennadi Schuman.

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.”  DHS FBLA adviser and business teacher Alyssa Marso commented, “Many thanks go out to area businesses and individuals who generously offered financial support to make it possible for DHS students to participate in the State Leadership Conference!”

FBLA State Champions: Hunter Quandahl in Client Service, Ian Giddings and Oliver Bollinger in Digital Video Production, Mitchell Stemper in both Financial Statement Analysis and Organizational Leadership, and Austin Helgerson in Supply Chain Management

FBLA National Qualifiers: Hunter Quandahl, Austin Helgerson, Jaidyn Duvel, Savannah O’Reilly, Kelby Kerndt, Jackson Pipho, Cashton Riehle, Ian Giddings, Oliver Bollinger, and Mitchell Stemper