Event puts students to the test
Warren County High School junior Latoya Nelson was ready for the test.
What's the most commonly used closure for a business letter?
Thomson High School student Ashley Jones greets CSRA School to Work Program Manager Linda Sliger (center) and Pat Carr of Thomson High School at the beginning of a mock interview during the FBLA Region 4 Conference.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
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She had studied three weeks for the business communications test, just one event of the Future Business Leaders of America Region 4 Conference at Greenbrier High School on Wednesday. Latoya was one of more than 400 students from 33 schools in the region competing - some making the drive from cities as far away as Metter and Swainsboro, Ga.
For Latoya, FBLA is a way to learn the skills that will benefit her in a career as a pediatric nurse.
"It teaches you great leadership skills, and you learn how to communicate," said Latoya, who was dressed in a black suit with blue pinstripes and a matching blue shirt, her black hair neatly braided and coiled.
At the conference, middle and high school students tested their business savvy in 16 events, including accounting, business calculation, Web site development, multimedia presentation, job interview, public speaking and impromptu speaking.
The top five in each event will move on in March to the state competition, where they will compete against the winners from seven other regions in the state. If they win at the state competition, then they will go to the national competition, where they will compete with members not only from the United States but also from chapters in Europe and other countries.
"It's really a steppingstone for them," said Rebecca Tyson, a business/management/information technology teacher at Greenbrier High School. "There's a lot of preparation that goes into it, just wanting to successful in the business area. We try to develop business skills, business etiquette and let them know what's going to be expected of them out in the business world."
Greenbrier played host to the event because student Britney Graham is the state FBLA Region 4 vice president.
"It has given me self-respect, allowed me to gain a new perspective of the business world and taught me how to handle myself in different situations," Britney said of her FBLA experience.