March 7, 2024
By Rayan Yamout
Staff Writer
Future Business Leaders of America Club members are getting ready for an intense competition.
From March 11-13, 74 of the club’s members will be participating in FBLA’s State Leadership Conference at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City.
Judges from across the state will evaluate students on objective tests, presentations and role play. Those with the highest scores will advance to the National Leadership Conference, which will take place from June 29-July 2 in Orlando, Florida.
Spanish teacher Mrs. Silvelo, who advises the club with accounting and personal finance teacher Mrs. Jankowski, said among the benefits of attending the State Leadership Conference is its appeal to colleges and universities.
“It is a very respectable thing to put on their college resume,” Silvelo said. “Many colleges have chapters in their schools and offer a lot of scholarship money to students.”
Silvelo said students gain a variety of skills through their membership in FBLA.
“[Students learn about] time management, dressing for the occasion and the job [they] want, preparation, planning a schedule and meeting deadlines,” Silvelo said.
Junior Shawn Bellenger, who joined FBLA as a freshman, said he is excited to attend the State Leadership Conference for the first time. He will be working with juniors Anthony Amaro and Michael Longo as they compete in the Sales Presentation event.
“We [will pitch] the new AT&T 5G helmet for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes,” Bellenger said. “We thought it would be cool to make a pitch like the show ‘Shark Tank’ and sell an item.”
Bellenger said among the challenges of being in FBLA are the time commitment and community service component. To qualify to attend the State Leadership Conference, members were required to attend at least three community service events.
“I’m always playing multiple sports and have a lot of schoolwork, so it could be difficult to fit it all in,” Bellenger said.
He said his team’s objective at the State Leadership Conference is to earn a spot at the National Leadership Conference.
“My team and I hope to place in [the] event and help Lyndhurst become known… nationally for FBLA,” Bellenger said.
Sophomore Debra Ogunbowale, who joined FBLA as a freshman, placed seventh in the state in the Digital Video Production event last year with sophomores Joseph Brennen and Rebecca Ruiz.
This year, Ogunbowale and sophomore Alexandra Lourenço will be competing in the Social Media Strategy event. They will be making a presentation to promote a virtual cheese-making fundraiser to raise money for the New Jersey FBLA chapter.
“I chose to do a presentation because it gives room for creative freedom and expression,” Ogunbowale said.
She said her membership in FBLA has taught her real-world skills like teamwork.
“Each member of the team has to put in an equal amount of work,” Ogunbowale said. “Everyone has to carry their weight.”
Ogunbowale said she will be ecstatic if she qualifies for the National Leadership Conference.
“The work I put into the presentation would’ve paid off and the judges [would be] impressed with what was brought to the table,” Ogunbowale said.
Junior Isaac Camilo, who joined FBLA as a freshman, will be making an Electronic Career Portfolio presentation where he will explain his academic achievements and why he is a good fit for the business field.
Last year, he qualified for the State Leadership Conference by placing fourth on the regional Introduction to Marketing Concepts test.
“We thought it would be cool to make a pitch like the show ‘Shark Tank’ and sell an item.”
Camilo said being part of FBLA has helped him gain confidence.
“I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone,” Camilo said. “FBLA has made me less nervous overall.”
Camilo said he has enjoyed the bonds and relationships he has formed with other students in the club.
“There are many members in our chapter that I otherwise would have never spoken to,” Camilo said. “Just [by] speaking with some of them, I discovered things that I had never known nor would have ever known if it wasn’t for FBLA.”
Camilo said FBLA has provided him with opportunities that have equipped him with skills he can use as he pursues a career in business administration.
Camilo said despite the time commitment, he is happy to be part of FBLA and preparing for the State Leadership Conference.
“Many people say that it is too much work for a club, but if you stick with it in the long run, it’ll end up being the best club you joined,” said Camilo.
