Wauconda High School to host FBLA leadership conference

WAUCONDA – Between 600 and 800 high school members of Future Business Leaders of America will converge at Wauconda High School next month for the Northern Illinois Area Leadership Conference.

Schools are selected to host the conference based on which student was elected president of the FBLA’s northern area. This year, it was WHS senior Chris Nachman, who placed fourth at the 2013 nationals in the Business Plan category.

FBLA is a popular co-curricular program at WHS, with 326 students involved, according to advisor Wendy Mills, who teaches business education. In fact, it was Mills who reinstated the school’s FBLA program in 2011, following a 40-year absence.

“It’s a neat niche that most people don’t realize is there,” said Mills of Future Business Leaders of America, which is the largest and oldest business student organization in the world.

The goal of FBLA is to prepare students for business careers by helping them develop leadership, communication and team skills. Students participate in workshops and study sessions, and compete in events at area, state and national levels.

Dedication to community service is also an important aspect of FBLA membership. Throughout the school year, students volunteer for projects ranging from food drives to tutoring elementary students.

“Whatever the town needs,” Mills said. “FBLA is there.”

The students have been busy preparing for the Northern Illinois Area Leadership Conference by attending study sessions, taking practice tests and presenting in front of mock judges during practice runs.

More than 200 Wauconda High School FBLA members will compete at the conference, to be held at the school from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 17. However, the event is not open to the public, only participants and volunteers. Mills said this is to decrease pressure on the students, and because of space.

Most of the students will compete as teams, being challenged on a variety of topics such as business law, business math and business ethics.

For example, a team competing in the business ethics category could be asked to solve a problem of being a retail employee and having a friend ask to use their privileged store discount. The team would have 10 minutes to discuss the issue and five minutes to present their solution to a judge.

Last year, 95 WHS students who competed at the area conference advanced to state level competition, with 31 qualifying for nationals. Mills said four teams then placed in the top ten at nationals.

Volunteers needed

It takes a lot of help from the community to put on the area conference. Volunteers age 21 and older are being sought to help with judging events, timing, security, guiding attendees are more.

About 90 judges are needed, along with 200 volunteers for other tasks. So far, about 70 people have stepped up to judge and 100 others have agreed to volunteer.

No experience is needed to be a judge. A brief training session for judges will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 14, in the WHS auditorium.

“This is my fourth year. I enjoy watching the students develop into young, confident, smart, powerful and loving individuals that are helping to make the world a better place,” said event coordinator Louie Sharp, who is a professional FBLA member and owner of Sharp Auto Body in Island Lake.

Those interested in serving as a judge or volunteering can email their contact information to Louie@sharpautobody.com.

For corporate sponsorship information, email george.lauber@gmail.com or stephan.diol@wellsfargoadvisors.com.