Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is an organization for students interested in business careers and technology. This year, the school board decided to bring it to AHS to benefit their students. 

Mary Jensen, the business teacher at AHS, decided to take the position as the advisor. The advisor’s role is to guide the students in choosing a topic for competitions, as well as help them grow their business attributes. When the Department of Education mandated the school system to host a business club, Jensen had three types of clubs to choose from. Jensen saw FBLA as a “greater benefit” for AHS, because of the size of the organization and the amount of resources it provides for teachers. There is a wide range of competitions including 76 different individual competitions from accounting to even website designing. In other words, there is a place for everyone in FBLA. You can also apply for chapter-wide competitions and earn awards. These contests can take you to districts all the way to state and, with enough practice and skill, to a national-level contest.

In addition to a world of competition, local chapters carry out community outreach. Atlantic FBLA will participate in service projects while also visiting businesses to gather funds for waiving member dues. 

For the Atlantic FBLA chapter, dues are $25; however, the chapter is working together to fundraise for the dues to be waived, thus, each student can participate for free. Jensen has been actively working with students to get more people involved in Atlantic’s newly formed chapter; they have put up posters and guest starred on an Eye of the Needle episode. Jensen also talked to students separately in her business classes. All of this recruiting brought 13 members together, plus, they are still accepting new members until Dec. 20. 

FBLA can give you the resources to further your business education beyond high school into the real world. Jensen said, “Students will benefit because it gives them the confidence needed so that they can compete against other people, and have the chance of earning scholarships, while also applying for colleges”. Jensen also said that it would prepare students for the workplace in their futures. Members of FBLA agree with Jensen’s claim that FBLA will teach you skills well into your future career. “FBLA will make you a better person, a hireable candidate, and a vital part of your community,” said Margaret McCurdy. McCurdy likes that the skills that are taught in FBLA can “Mimic the real world.” Makenna Shroeder said what she would benefit from FBLA is “learning to meet new people” because it “will always be a vital life skill”. 

Shroeder is the president of the FBLA chapter. This year, she plans on participating in the impromptu speaking competition at the state from March 30 to April 1. She said that she would like any student looking for a business-oriented career to “come to join a cutting-edge group that could set you on a path for your future.”