FBLA Competition

The Future Business Leaders of America club at Century High School is gearing up for the State Business Competition on March 26-28, a competition for which the club has been preparing since the beginning of the school year.
          Students throughout the country have been preparing for this nationally renowned competition which contains over 60 events including Accounting, Business Presentation, Marketing, and Economics.
          Regionals were held on Feb. 10, at Arundel Mills High School, where the students left right after school and got home around 7 p.m.
          Although no one advanced from the Regional competition to the State finals, junior Cassie O’Neil received fifth place for the Accounting and seniors Brandon Choi and Brad Andersen were awarded third place for Business Ethics. 
          However, since they are participants in the Business Planning category of the competition, President and senior Vincent Fitch will be competing along with Andersen in the State competition, which will be held on March 26-28 at the Baltimore Marriot Hotel.
Along with the actual competition, students will get a chance to participate in two formal dinners, elections for new state officials, and a casual dance.
          Over all the trip costs $185 per person, and to raise money, FBLA has been selling Krispy Kremes and school banners to cut the cost for the competitors.
          Andersen, who won first place, last year in the Business Law category, said “the competition is a great opportunity to show everyone what you got.”
         “It’s a good way to market yourself and earn scholarship money,” Fitch explained.
Juniors Victoria Northrop and Johna Leonard will also be competing in the Business Presentation portion of the State competition, where she will market “internet safety for young teens.”
          Before heading off to States in March, Fitch and the rest of the competitors had to first send their written and pre-judged events by Feb. 25.
          “They have guidelines and reference material to work from but other than that they work individually,” commented FBLA advisor Wendy Cain, who holds meetings every Tuesday to help them with any questions.
          Along with the upcoming State competition, FBLA has been making some changes with regards to the school store.
          These products include teddy bears for Valentines Day, shamrock necklaces to honor the hearty St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras beads, and new apparel.
         “We hope these seasonal items will bring more awareness to all that the school store has to offer,” added Fitch.