Pine Creek FBLA members pushed themselves out of their comfort zone this year. Three members of FBLA that were headed to Nationals answered various questions about their events, experiences, and prep. 

The culture and community of Pine Creek FBLA was seen as the most important thing that helped lead the teams to victory. Many attributed their success to support from the advisers and each other. One of the many factors that influenced how competitors chose their events was the classes they took. 

Qualifying for the National conference isn’t an easy task. Students must place in the top four at the State Leadership Conference to move on to the National Leadership Conference held in the summer. While events vary from presentations to taking tests, each competitor expressed how having more time to prep for state could really impact a team’s performance. Many agreed that with more prep time, it would have helped ease the chaos that occurred for some, with last minute cramming and studying before the conference. 

Of the 53 students who competed at the State Conference, over 71 % of them placed in the top 10 with a total of 23 students qualifying for the National Conference. Pine Creek also secured State Championships in 5 events: Entrepreneurship, International Business, Insurance & Risk Management, Marketing, and Networking Infrastructures. Although there was a lot of competition at State, the community and experiences that bonded the competitors during downtime ultimately created greater friendships and helped showcase the inclusive community that FBLA at Pine Creek High School provides.