Members of the Rugby High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter attended the ND FBLA State Leadership Conference in Bismarck on April 1-3. The Rugby FBLA Chapter received the State ND Gold Award.

The most exciting aspect of the conference is the competitive events program. Students have the opportunity to test the business skills they’ve learned in the classroom in a variety of individual, team, and chapter events. Students can enter events such as accounting, computer applications, business calculations, introduction to business, business ethics, job interview, future business leader, or website development. The culmination of the competitive events program is the awards ceremony where winners are recognized for their accomplishments. In addition to the competitive events program, students had the opportunity to attend workshops, business tours and college tours. A new team of state officers were also elected at the conference.

Over fifty FBLA chapters from across the state participated in this conference, where approximately 1,200 students had the opportunity to test their business skills against other students from across the state.

Individual and team state winners: Emily Pfeifer and Tashal Trottier, 4th Place, Business Ethics, Josh Pfeifer10th Place, Introduction to Business; Emily Pfeifer, Local Chapter Who’s Who Award; Andrew Hershey, Membership Madness. The following students received certificates for the “Business Level” of the Business Achievement Awards Program: McKenzie Cameron, Andrew Hershey, Sydney Kraft, Tanner Lind, David McAtee, Emily Pfeifer, Gabby Samuda, Chris Seaver, and Emily Voeller.

The following students received certificates for the “Future Level” of the Business Achievement Awards Program: Tanner Bernhardt, Kyle Halvorson, Noah Kraft, Kris Leier, Josh Pfeifer, Tashal Trottier, Hannah Voeller, and Allison Volk.

“Congratulations to Andrew Hershey for his outstanding leadership as Rugby High School FBLA Chapter President and as State FBLA Region I – Vice President for 2011-2012,” said Paola Trottier, FBLA advisor. The National Leadership Conference will be held in San Antonio, Texas this year from June 29-July 3, 2012. Andrew Hershey and Emily Pfeifer along with Mrs. Trottier will be attending this conference.

The current FBLA Chapter officers along with Advisor Paola Trottier are currently planning the end-of-the-year awards banquet. The banquet will be held on May 15th at 7:00 pm in the High School commons area. Parents are encourage to attend and any students who are interested in joining are welcome to attend the banquet; membership forms will be available at that time.