The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA

Features

February 15, 2006

Program's members are driven to succeed

By COLLEEN FREYVOGEL

Kat Lynerd, a senior at Chestnut Ridge High School, presides over the largest student organization in the district.

Made up of 150 members, the Future Business Leaders of America team has brought home a number of regional, state and national titles and has one of the largest budgets in the district.

The adviser, Melissa McDonald, said the budget is more than $20,000 a year.

The money is used for study materials, workshops and travel expenses to competitions.

Lynerd said students dedicate hours to studying their individual testing topics in order to win awards.

“The ones that really want it are the ones that really work at it,” she said.

McDonald said the team is a unique group of students who are focused on success.

During the summer, FBLA members begin studying accounting, public speaking, desktop publishing and 32 other business-related topics on which they are tested, McDonald said.

FBLA members must attend a multitude of study sessions.

McDonald said students worked from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. almost every day during the district’s Christmas break.

But, the work paid off.

The high school will send 42 students to the FBLA state competition in Hershey on April 19-21. Many hope to compete in the national high school FBLA competition in Nashville, Tenn., on June 29 to July 2.

Lynerd, past regional president, said the Chestnut Ridge chapter has become well-known across the state and nation.

McDonald has been adviser for six years. She said the district has be-come a role model for high-school FBLA programs throughout the country.

McDonald has two assistant advisers, Mary Lou Smith and John Morbitzer.

Lynerd said the organization prepares students for college and allows them to explore different business topics.

Joey Bischof, a senior, said his involvement in the club has made it easier for him to choose his college courses.

“I’m going into business with a minor in communications,” he said.

Bischof said he looked at a number of colleges that offered scholarships for FBLA members or had similar college organizations.

He said a number of students in the club do not compete.

“It’s what you make it,” Bischof said.

“There are people that don’t compete and there are others that compete and get a lot out of it.”

Senior Matt Claar said students can tailor their club involvement to concentrate on their weaknesses or bolster their strong points.

If students have a fear of public speaking, they can learn to overcome that at competitions, he said. Students can also compete in economics if they are strong in mathematics or desktop publishing if they are good with computers, he added.

“The students really take it into their own hands,” Claar said.

FBLA’s goals include developing competent and aggressive business leaders and creating more interest in business enterprises.

McDonald, who was a Chestnut Ridge FBLA competitor in 1993 and 1994, has watched the club grow through the years.

Student athletes, musicians and academic enthusiasts participate in the program.

Lynerd said there is something in the program for everyone.

Students can learn about banking, financial systems or accounting or they can specialize in communication in order to hone their job-interviewing skills or become proficient in public speaking.

Lynerd said the program also helps students with their organizational skills.

Lynerd, who has many leadership responsibilities in the club – regionally and nationally – said she has also learned time management through the program and how to network.

“I think I am more outgoing because of FBLA,” she said.



Colleen Freyvogel can be reached at 532-5055 or cfreyvogel@tribdem.com.

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