Wausa FBLA members come away from Chicago conference with national honors

CHICAGO – Wausa FBLA Chapter members had the unique and special opportunity to travel to Chicago for the 2022 FBLA National Leadership Conference June 29-July 2.

FBLA – Future Business Leaders of America – students competed in their preliminary rounds on June 30 for a chance to take their events to the finals on July 1. There were seven sections in each

There were seven sections in each performance event with 14-15 teams in each section. The top two teams in each section qualified for the finals.

The performances by Wausa FBLA senior members Tyler Baue, Ali Lundberg and Trey McQuay in their respective sections placed in the top two and earned them the right to perform in the finals.

On July 2, these three students waited eagerly to see whether they had placed in the top 10 overall, which would qualify them for the opportunity to receive a trophy.

Baue and Lundberg brought home a fifth-place national finish in Graphic Design, while McQuay earned a 10th-place national finish in Sales Presentation.

“It was so much fun to work with Ali and create our own ‘brand,’” Baue said. “We put a lot of detail and effort into our project and it showed in the end.”

McQuay noted he was surprised to be called up on stage.

“I was very shocked but very grateful,” he said. “I felt ecstatic when I was called on stage, and felt unreal to be up in front of all those people.”

Wausa FBLA members not only represented their state chapter well, but also their community.

Other Wausa students competing in performance events included:

-Senior Emily Kleinschmit, senior Emily Woockman and sophomore Addison Wynia in Business Financial Plan.

-Seniors Leah Bloomquist and Reghan Bloomquist in Social Media Strategies.

-Sophomores Hadley Vanness and Cade Wakeley in Introduction to Social Media Strategies.

Three Wausa students competed in tests: Senior Abrielle Nelson in Insurance and Risk Management; senior Cole Story in Securities and Investments; and sophomore Claire Kumm in Word Processing.

Wausa FBLA members were ready to attend an in-person National Leadership Conference as the previous two years had been virtual due to COVID-19.

The trip began with an early morning meet-up June 28 at Wausa Public Schools, where all of the 13 National Leadership Conference qualifiers met at 4:45 a.m. to ride to Arlington to get on one of the Nebraska charter shuttle buses.

From there, they rode the bus for about eight hours from eastern Nebraska to Chicago.

The National Leadership Conference was attended by FBLA members from across the nation, totaling more than 14,000 students.

There were keynote speakers, workshops and pin-trading, during which students could trade and receive different pins from a variety of states.

“My favorite part of NLC was trading my pins to meet new people,” Woockman said.

While in Chicago, Wausa FBLA members also had the opportunity to get to know Illinois’ “Windy City.”

They saw Cloud Gate – also known as “The Bean” – at Millennium Park, attended the Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, walked and explored the Navy Pier, and ate “Chicago classics” such as deep-dish pizza, Billy Goat Taverns and Portillo’s hot dogs.

Wausa students definitely gained some great memories that will last a lifetime.

“The deep-dish pizza also re ally lived up to the hype – it was delicious,” Woockman said.

Wausa FBLA members would like to thank everyone who financially supported their trip to the National Leadership Conference, including the Northeast Nebraska Whitetails Unlimited Chapter, the Wausa Community Foundation Fund, the Wausa High School Booster Club, Wausa Public Schools and everyone who attended the car wash and hot dog lunch fundraisers on June 18.