FBLA CLEANS UP AT NATIONALS

NATIONAL STARS: Jackson FBLA members proudly display their National stars received at the National Leadership Conference July 11. From left to right are Catie Myers, Alicia Alderson, Abby Grossheider, Amanda Bollinger, Melinda Burnett, Josh Pfefferkorn, and Emily Unverferth.

BUSINESS PROJECT: The Partnership With Business Project received third place at the National Leadership Conference. The report is judged before the conference and then a powerpoint presentation was given in Long Beach about the project. Giving the presentation were Melinda Burnett, Josh Pfefferkorn and Emily Unverferth. Burnett and Unverferth submitted the written report on the project.

AT LONG BEACH: Members and advisers of the Jackson Chapter of FBLA who attended National Leadership Conference in Long Beach, Calif., are (front row from left) Amanda Bollinger, Catie Myers, Alicia Alderson, Abby Grossheider; (back row) Kathy Hecht, Emily Unverferth, Shelly Stover, Melinda Burnett, Josh Pfefferkorn, Justin Thompson and Becky Riney.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES: The Jackson Chapter made up three-fifths of the Missouri Parliamentary Procedures Team. Abby Grossheider (middle) chaired the team while Catie Myers (left) served as treasurer and Alicia Alderson (right) was the vice president. The Missouri team placed fourth in this event.

SECOND PLACE: Amanda Bollinger and Abby Grossheider display the second place star received for the chapter's Local Chapter Annual Business Report.

Prior to January 1815, Andrew Jackson was well known within a reasonably small circle -- well known enough for Jackson, Mo., to be named in his honor. It took a resounding victory at the Battle of New Orleans to make him a national celebrity.

Likewise, the Jackson High School chapter of Future Business Leaders of America has been well known within district and state boundaries for years. Like the town's namesake, the Jackson chapter may become known on a national level after a resounding performance of their own, at the FBLA National Leadership Conference, July 8-11, at Long Beach, Calif.

The JHS students enjoyed unprecedented success at nationals.

Gold Key Awards went to Abby Grossheider, Josh Pfefferkorn, Shelly Stover and Emily Unverferth, while Silver Key Awards were won by Kelly Shields, Amanda Bollinger, Adam Sherinski and Melinda Burnett.

The chapter also won the Gold Key Chapter Hollis and Kitty Guy Gold Seal Chapter Award.

The Jackson congregation won first place in the nation in public relations, second place for largest chapter membership in the North Central Region and second place in Local Chapter Annual Business Report, with Abby Grossheider and Amanda Bollinger.

"Nationals was a wonderful trip," Grossheider said "I can't think of a better way of ending my experiences in FBLA. It again proved to me that goal setting and hard work is a key to success."

"Earning the right to attend the National Leadership Conference was exciting and rewarding," Bollinger said. "Setting goals and working hard for a trip like this makes it special."

"I really enjoyed the national convention," Stover said. "It was exciting to see 5,000 students so enthusiastic about one club -- FBLA."

Emily Unverferth, Melinda Burnett and Josh Pfefferkorn took third place with their Partnership With Business Project, while the Missouri Parliamentary Procedure Team of Grossheider (chairperson), Alicia Alderson and Catie Myers, took fourth place.

"The first word that comes to mind to describe NLC was awesome!" said Alderson, a junior this fall. "It was organized, fun, challenging and rewarding.

"Serving as a state officer in front of the entire Missouri delegation gave me a lot of pride. It was an experience I'll never forget. I look forward to having the opportunity to qualify for two more NLC conferences in the future."

Amanda Bollinger captured fifth place in Word Processing II, while Josh Pfefferkorn finished fifth in Who's Who in Missouri FBLA competition.

Pfefferkorn also won a $500 Business Leadership Scholarship sponsored by Wal-Mart.

"The trip to the NLC in Long Beach was a truly remarkable experience," said Justin Thompson, the chapter's 2000-2001 president. "It opened my eyes to the many possibilities FBLA has to offer and caused my leadership skills to flourish."

"I appreciate everyone in the community who helped make this trip possible," Bollinger said, "and I just want to say 'thank you' for a lifetime experience I will never forget.

"I already have a goal to qualify again next year -- NLC and Long Beach were awesome!"

"Being able to provide high school students with an opportunity to attend a national conference is a great reward as an adviser," said Becky Riney, who took the group to Long Beach, along with Kathy Hecht. "You see your students set goals and work so hard all year long for this great experience. Having national qualifiers and winners says so much for our local FBLA chapter members and the Jackson community."