On Oct. 23, as many as 52 students attended FBLA’s Fall Conference that was held in Stuttgart at the Grand Prairie Center.
Future Business Leaders of America, otherwise known as FBLA, is an organization that combines education and business so that students can take what they’ve learned and apply it to the real world. Cheryl Harrell, the main advisor for FBLA, helps students accomplish that by providing a space where they can utilize business concepts.
“Letting students actually experience business concepts in a real and applicable way allows them to make decisions on what they want to do with their future,” Harrell said. “FBLA is the way to take what you learn in the classroom and apply it to life.”
FBLA provides students with opportunities to attend conferences in order to help further their understanding of business-related topics. Senior Lily Presley, the social media manager for FBLA, discussed the benefits of attending and participating in conferences.
“Typically, conferences will have speakers to learn from,” Presley said. “They host sessions where you can learn about marketing, administration roles or finances.”
Conferences allow FBLA students to connect with their peers who are also interested in business-related careers.
“These conferences are a great place to network with other people your age,” Presley said. “You can also talk to some people who you may end up working for one day.”
Jill Freeman, a sophomore FBLA member, wants to attend the conference to learn from business owners.
“The conference’s purpose for me is to get informative experiences from current business owners, so that I am able to apply what I have learned from them in the future.” Freeman said.
Attending the Fall Conference is important for FBLA as it provides them with the means to learn and experience things within the business world.
“The Fall Conference is a chance to hear a speaker talk about leadership, overcoming obstacles and motivating them to give everything their all,” Harrell said. “Students always benefit from inspiring and motivating stories.”
Students returned from the conference having raised over $500 to donate to Arkansas Children’s Hospital and earned a Silver Champion Chapter Plaque. Additionally, FBLA members were able to listen to Dave Pittman, a guest speaker at the conference.
“That’s usually what our fall conference is about, is giving them motivation, giving them something to aspire to, or to just something that will motivate them to keep achieving and leading,” Harrell said.
