Thomas County Central High School Future Business Leaders of America club has retained its region crown for the fifth consecutive year.
FBLA students dominated the Future Business Leaders Region 1 Leadership Conference & Competition, held Jan. 15 at the Southern Regional College in Moultrie. Approximately 60 students participated in more than 100 events. TCCHS defended its title and earned 30 first place medals, 17 second place medals, nine third place medals, and numerous other top 10 medals. Thirty-three students will move on to FBLA State Leadership Conference & Competition (see box).
“We won region for the fifth time in a row,” senior member Mason Lawing said. “That is quite the achievement considering the size of our region.”
FBLA Advisor Nicholas Haskin said he “could not be more proud of this amazing group of young women and men.”
“They faced a lot of pressure as they were challenged to repeat as region champions, against 32 other schools, for the fifth year in the row,” he said. “We had some of the highest placings we've ever seen. We had students ranked first, second, and third in the entire state, in multiple events...sometimes against over 600 competitors. I could not be more proud to lead a group of such exceptional young men and women.”
Senior Tyler Williamson competed and placed first in both Business Plan and Business Financial Plan categories. For Business Plan, her team created and submitted a 30-page plan for a plantation bed and breakfast. In Business Financial Plan, she and her partner made a 15-page plan for a fictional fitness club.
“Placing keeps me motivated and wanting to place high enough to make it to state and then on to nationals,” Williamson said.
Lawing placed second in Digital Video Production and first in PSA.
“Placing means that I’ve excelled above the rest of the region and reaped a harvest for my hard work,” he said.
Member Sanny Patel participated and placed in Public Service Announcement and Intro to Information Tech categories. In PSA, he and his partner made a video; in the other, he took a test.
“I really enjoy being involved in areas with computers,” Patel said. “Placing means a lot to me because it can show that your hard work pays off at the end.”
Member Ellen Ponder’s team placed first in Social Media Campaign. She wanted to compete in this category because “it sounded challenging, yet really interesting.” Her team had to choose three social media platforms and create a banquet hall. She designed the logo and generated site traffic.
“Placing first validates my partner and I’s hard work,” Ponder said. “It shows me that I’m capable of greater things.”
Haskin said TCCHS has never lost the FBLA Region 1 Sweepstakes Trophy since its inception, but stressed it’s a group effort.
“While I am so proud of the accomplishments of our students, our FBLA would not be where it is today without the devotion of a great officer team and amazing advisors,” he said. “The work that Ms. (Beth) Adams, Ms. (Michelle) Ausley, Ms. (Patricia) Beach, and Ms. (Feraby) Moye put in to help prepare our students for regional, state, and national conferences is invaluable.”
Students will be preparing for state competition, to be held in Athens March 6-8, in a variety of ways.
“I will be prepping like crazy with my team by making tons of improvements on our business plan, and also creating and rehearsing a top-notch presentation,” Williamson said. “My goal is to place in the top four at state and advance to nationals.”
Patel’s state goal is to do better than he did at region.
“I will prepare for this by taking advice from my judges’ sheet and advice from the students that have already been to state in the past,” he said.
Ponder said her team has “to hit the ground running” because they have a short window and “our eyes are set on nationals.” She asked people to follow their project, elysian_banquet_hall, on Instagram and Facebook to help them generate needed traffic.
Competitions matter, but being part of this club is very important to its members.
“I’m a part of FBLA because not only do I have a good challenge, but it’s more of a family to me,” Williamson said. “I want to study business in the future, so this is great practice and help.”
Ponder loves FBLA and its members, and has pride in her club’s drive to succeed. She is “really into” the idea of Public Relations and said competing in FBLA events help give a glimpse into the potential career field.
Haskin said FBLA’s aim is “not just to increase knowledge or skills, but to make each student a better person.”
“We have watched members increase their confidence, verbal communication and presentation skills, computer and programming skills, and develop a greater awareness of the business environment,” he said. “However, more importantly, we provide an environment where everyone is accepted and encouraged to contribute and better themselves and those around them. At TCCHS, we are a family.”
TCCHS FBLA REGION MEDALISTS
(placement in parenthesis)
Brianna Thomas: Accounting (8), Personal Finance (9)
Hannah Dixon: Business Calculations (6)
Erin Pearson: Business Calculations (10), Business Communication (8)
Justin Barfield: Business Calculations (1), Business Plan (1)
Ghuanghui Li: Business Calculations (8), Business Plan (2)
Maggie Martin: Business Communication (3), Economics (3)
Jane Guo: Business Communication (1), Publication Design (2)
Anna Jense: Business Plan (12), Future Business Leader (1)
Tyler Williamson: Business Plan (1), Business Financial Plan (1)
Shelby Howard: Digital Video Production (2), Sales Presentation (1)
Mason Lawing: Digital Video Production (2), PSA (1)
Steven Tran: Digital Video Production (1), PSA (2)
Marion Rose Young: Digital Video Production (1)
Logan Herring: Economics (4), Business Ethics (1)
Eve Phelps: Intro to Business Comm (2), Computer Applications (3)
C’lee Kornegay: Intro to Business Comm (3), Intro to Financial Math (3)
Kennedy Ward: Intro to Business Comm (4), Intro to Business Presentation (2)
Haley Newman: Intro to Business Comm (1), Intro to Business Presentation (2)
Drew Lloyd: Intro to Business Comm (6)
Tommy Tran: Intro to Information Tech (2)
Jared Conley: Intro to Information Tech (5), Publication Design (4)
Christian Odoms: Intro to Information Tech (10), Publication Design (4)
Sanny Patel: Intro to Information Tech (6), PSA (2)
Huntley Rodgers: Personal Finance (5), Sports & Entertainment Mgt. (1)
Keri Corbin: PSA (1), Banking & Finance (1)
Brock Reid: Securities and Investments (1), Banking & Finance (1)
Ansley Jones: Social Media Campaign (1), Emerging Business Issues (1)
Ellen Ponder: Social Media Campaign (1), Publication Design (2)
Rhonda Jackson: Business Ethics (1)
Abigail Jense: Business Ethics (1)
Emily Dukes: Emerging Business Issues (1), Global Business (2)
Haley Keyton: Emerging Business Issues (1), Global Business (2)
Reshad Daniels: Job Interview (1)
Riley Jones: Business Financial Plan (1), Sports & Entertainment Mgt. (1)
Sam Gelabert: Business Plan (2), Impromptu Speaking (3)
Faythe Choate: Business Plan (2)
Sophie Anderson: Graphic Design (3)
Jennifer Shoup: Graphic Design (3)
Zac Burton: Graphic Design (4)
Ann Guo: Graphic Design (4), Hospitality Management (2)
Garrett Castleman: Help Desk (3), Website Design (6)
Beth Sharpe: Hospitality Management (2)
Madison Smith: Hospitality Management (2)
Kenlie Harvey: Sports & Entertainment Mgt. (1), Intro to Business Presentation (2)
Jaym Densing: Website Design (1)
Camille Sowell: Website Design (1)
Hunter Hudson: Website Design (6)
TCCHS FBLA STATE QUALIFIERS
Brianna Thomas: Accounting 1 and Personal Finance
Hannah Dixon: Business Calculations
Erin Pearson: Business Calculations, Business Communication
Justin Barfield: Business Calculations, Business Plan
Ghuanghui Li: Business Calculations
Maggie Martin: Business Communication, Economics
Jane Guo: Business Communication
Anna Jense: Business Plan, Future Business Leader
Tyler Williamson: Business Plan
Shelby Howard: Digital Video Production, Sales Presentation
Mason Lawing: Digital Video Production, PSA
Steven Tran: Digital Video Production, PSA
Marion Rose Young: Digital Video Production
Logan Herring: Economics, Business Ethics
Eve Phelps: Intro to Business Communications
C’lee Kornegay: Intro to Business Communications, Intro to Financial Math
Kennedy Ward: Intro to Business Communications
Haley Newman: Intro to Business Communications
Drew Lloyd: Intro to Business Communications
Tommy Tran: Intro to Information Tech
Jared Conley: Intro to Information Tech
Christian Odoms: Intro to Information Tech
Sanny Patel: Intro to Information Tech, PSA
Huntley Rodgers: Personal Finance
Keri Corbin: PSA
Brock Reid: Securities and Investments
Ansley Jones: Social Media Campaign, Emerging Business Issues
Ellen Ponder: Social Media Campaign
Rhonda Jackson: Business Ethics
Abigail Jense: Business Ethics
Emily Dukes: Emerging Business Issues
Haley Keyton: Emerging Business Issues
Reshad Daniels: Job Interview