Local students qualify for national FBLA competition

Two students from LSMSA qualified for national competition during the FBLA State Leadership Conference held March 25-27 at the Lafayette Convention Center and Cajun Dome in Lafayette.

The National Leadership Conference will be held June 28 – July 1 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Those qualifying to compete at the national level are Pasha Farley, a sophomore from Campti, who placed first in Introduction to Business, and Kathryn Lee, a sophomore from Natchitoches, who placed second in Introduction to Financial Math.

Three other students placed in the top 10 at the state competition. They are Funke Adeleye, a sophomore from Natchitoches, who placed ninth in Introduction to Financial Math; Nicholas Adams, a sophomore from Baton Rouge, who placed sixth in Introduction to Information Technology; and Joan Sporer, a junior from Leesville, who placed sixth in Organizational Leadership.

Other competitors included Autumn Downen, a senior from Choudrant; Cynthia Russell, a junior from Pitkin; Jada Bezue, a junior from Hammond; Gabrielle Papillion, a senior from Oberlin; Marcus Shallow, a senior from Elton; Ryann Hamilton, a sophomore from Baton Rouge; and Chirstan Bates, a sophomore from Ruston.

Bates will serve on the 2018-19 Louisiana FBLA state officer team as the state reporter.

A part of the trip was paid for by the LSMSA Foundation.

FBLA is a non-profit education association with a quarter million students preparing for careers in business and business-related fields.

Headquartered in Reston, Va., FBLA is organized on local, state and national levels. Business teachers, advisers and advisory councils guide local chapters. State advisers and committee members coordinate chapter activities for the national organization.