Here's how local teams placed at the Future Business Leaders Regional Competition, held in Greenwich:
Saranac Lake: Fifth, Principles & Procedures, Mike Sapone; third, Sports Management, Mike Sapone; first, second, fifth, CFI Personal Finance, Hillary Pond, Megan Mueller, Lillee Tissot; third, MS Word, Rhonwan Jones; second, third, marketing, Andrea Nye, Lillee Tissot; second, fourth, economics, Rhonwen Jones, Danielle Eble; fourth, fifth, Computer Applications, Elizabeth McGuirk, Danielle Eble; second, third, Business Math, Emily Fountain, Kylie Sapone; fifth, Business Law, Gaby Felieu; third, fourth, Business Communications, Megan Mueller, Andrew Nye; and first, Business Calculations, Hillary Pond.
Seton Catholic: Fifth, Business Communications, Eva Zalis; second, Computer Applications, Carson Hynes; first, Economics, Mallory Faveau; first, second, Introduction to Business, Carson Hynes, Mallory Favea; first, Introduction to Business Communications, Lauren Grant; fourth, Marketing, Alysa Sorrell; fifth, MS Word, Kathryn VanHerp; first, Basic Decision Making, Elizabeth Fisher; and third, Public Speaking 2, Jamyla Willette.
Ticonderoga: Third, Job Interview, Tim Robbins; fifth, Introduction to Business, Karney Manning; fifth, Business Math, Tanner Purkey; fourth, Business Law, Jessie Patchett; fourth, Business Calculations, Dan Morrison; fourth, Marketing, Jessie Patchett; first, second, fifth, Accounting 2, Tim Robbins, Ralph Todd, Jessie Patchett; and second, fifth, Accounting 1, Ralph Todd, Darian McDonough.
Westport: First, Job Interview, Kevin Russell; second, Public Speaking 2, Alan Ware; first, Public Speaking 1, Delaney Sears; second, Impromptu Speaking, Liam Davis; first, second, Sports Management, Kevin Russell, Johnny Stahl; fourth, Intro to Business, Willa McKinley; third, Economics, Nate Gay; first, Business Math, Willa McKinley; second, Business Communications, Alan Ware; third, Accounting 2, Christina Sherman; and fourth, Accounting 2, Nate Gay.
WESTPORT — The future looks bright for local students involved in Future Business Leaders of America, who just recorded their best competition results to date.
Future Business Leaders is the largest business career student organization in the world, with more than 215,000 high school members.
Several local schools participate in the program and take part in regional, and sometimes state, competitions.
They all say the club provides worthwhile experiences.
SARANAC LAKE
Saranac Lake Future Business Leaders adviser Natalie Pond has "watched students grow to become responsible student leaders through their encounters with FBLA."
Her club is now selling shamrocks to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and they do fundraisers throughout the year to help fund student attendance at the Future Business Leaders State Leadership Conference.
Rhonwen Jones, a Saranac Lake senior, joined the club as a freshman.
"Over the years, not only did I learn about many different aspects of business, I gained confidence as a leader among my peers, with skills I can carry with me through my life.
"I hope to open a physical-therapy clinic and use these skills along with others that I develop to help me be a successful entrepreneur."
Saranac Lake junior Meadow Hackett said the club "has given me the opportunity to experience the professionalism of a business. I feel that FBLA helps high-school students learn professional skills that we will benefit from in the future at college or in careers that we pursue.
"It's enjoyable to participate in competitions because the attire we wear is formal, as though we actually are the business leaders we aspire to be," she added.
WESTPORT
Though Bo McKinley may be known for his athleticism on the basketball court, he felt his Future Business Leaders participation "was fantastic. I have learned about having a greater responsibility with money. Before this, money seemed to be a renewable resource. I now realize there is a finite supply, and it's a valuable commodity."
Tenth-grader Delaney Sears said the club "has taught me to be a public speaker and made me a more competent person. It's one of the most valuable clubs offered at Westport."
Westport senior Jonathan Stahl said the group "has given me experiences I could not have had elsewhere. I get college credit, and I have learned a lot about sports marketing."
Liam Davis said the club "has helped motivate me to do more out of the classroom. It has helped boost my confidence to speak in front of crowds."
"I hope to go into business and math, so FBLA has opened up the business world to me," Willa McKinley said. "It was a good experience. We met others our age. Rather than be lectured by adults, we learn from our peers."
Westport's Future Business Leaders adviser, Adam Facteau, noted the Westport Chamber of Commerce has been utilizing the skills learned by the students.
"We're lucky we have a community reaching out to us," he said.
TICONDEROGA
Megan Scuderi, a student at Ticonderoga Central School, said the Future Business Leaders conference "was fun and competitive, and it was great meeting new people."
"The conference was a great place to explore business opportunities for the future," added Tim Robbins.
Ralph Todd found the conference "was a pleasant experience to meet new people that share the same values of business as I do and a great way to learn new business ideas."
The Ticonderoga chapter participates with the town's Adopt a Street program to help keep the community's streets clean and is involved with the Chamber of Commerce.
"The conference and competition are good ways for our students to meet other business students in the Adirondacks, as well as understand what they have to do to pursue a career in business," adviser Bill Morse said.
SETON CATHOLIC
Seton Catholic Central Future Business Leaders adviser Carrie LaMora said their goal is to someday raise enough money to attend the state leadership meeting, a three-day event held in Rochester.
"We would love it if more schools in this area became members," LaMora added, "as it would make the competition at events more exciting."
The club is in charge of recycling paper for the school, and members have competed at regional conferences.
"I have learned various thoughts and ideas from the speeches and the conversations made at the conference," said student Kathryn Vanherp. "I have also learned new leadership and business techniques that will be very useful in my future career."
Carson Hynes said she has "gained a sense of self pride by competing and succeeding in multiple categories."
Mallory Favreau "learned more about business, in general, but more importantly what direction I may take for my future career."
Stephanie Kustos said that being part of Future Business leaders "has helped me grow as a person and develop skills that will be valuable to me in the future."
E-mail Alvin Reiner at: rondackrambler@yahoo.com
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