SCOTT CITY STUDENTS' FBLA PROJECT GAINS NATIONAL RECOGNITION

SCOTT CITY -- The enterprise of the Future Business Leaders of America at Scott City High School has brought it national recognition.

Faculty sponsor Pat Andrews said she learned last week that the school's chapter had won third place for a project report it entered in a competition at the National Future Business Leaders of America Leadership Conference in Chicago June 30 to July 3.

"We're really just thrilled to death. We didn't do this to win awards. But this is just ... like a perfect culmination to the whole thing," Andrews, a business teacher, said.

The first-time project, called "Buy Local Week," ran Feb. 10-15 and sought to get community residents to buy products in Scott City to add to the city's tax base.

Twenty-six merchants participated in the project, which made use of coupon books. Several merchants afterwards reported sales and, or, customer increases for the week.

Andrews said the project garnered 398 points out of a possible 400, "which shows the level of competition."

"It's not easy to even get in the top 10. This is the first time one of our (individual) reports has finished in the top 10." The chapter, though, has had lots of reports finish in first or second place at the state level, she said.

Three judges gave the entry 100 points, she said, with a fourth judge delivering the 98 points. She said the entry was judged in the areas of originality; planning development and implementation; research into school and community needs; benefits to and impact on the school and community; and publicity.

Of the project, Andrews said, a judge wrote: "Excellent example of school and community working together. Positive and mature impression of students who `want to make a difference.'

"One judge said, `Very well thought-out with the plan of action and responsibilities," she said. `Good community spirit,' one judge said."

The state adviser for the Future Business Leaders of America, Pattie Lake, said 40 states competed in the national competition, with each state being eligible to submit two reports. In that total would be the Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Europe and the Virgin Islands, said Lake, an employee of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Jefferson City.

Thousands of association chapters exist, said Andrews.

Jennifer Bertrand, 18, who graduated from the school in May, served as the school's FBLA president at the time of the project.

"I think it shows a lot for a school our size to receive third," Bertrand said Wednesday. Scott City High School is a 2A school, she said.

Said Bertrand: "I hope maybe next year there will be more community involvement with it."

Sherri Warren, 18, the student who worked on the project report and also graduated in May, said a lot of people put down kids and say they don't "give a hoot." But she said the report "shows that we care enough about our community and what's going on, because the economy was really rough at that time and we were trying to help businesses out."

Andrews said she hoped everyone the school, community and businesses realize that the students really do want to make a difference in Scott City. Many grew up here and will probably stay, she said. They are concerned, Andrews said, about businesses staying open and providing products or services for them.

"It wasn't a selfish thing by them just to get an award; they thought it was a neat idea and they wanted to do it."

Because of the help and support given to the chapter by the school's administration and the city's business community, she said, she wanted them to look on the award as their own also.

Andrews said Buy Local Week is planned again for this coming school year. And she's sure it will draw larger support and be entered once again into the FBLA competition.

"I don't know how we can improve it. I don't know how we can pick up another 1 points," she said.

Also serving as sponsors of the school's chapter are business teachers Martha Nothdurft and Donna Lutes.