WINFIELD -- After a number of years, the Future Business Leaders of America are back in business at Winfield High School, according to Diana Painter, FBLA sponsor and Winfield High business teacher.
"Winfield High School reactivated its chapter of FBLA this school year. A small group of dedicated students participated in meetings in the spring semester," Painter said.
Four to be exact. They are Amber Absten, Michelle Price, Rachel Cash and Dustin Atik. They might be a small group, but what they lack in membership, they make up in enthusiasm. Starting in the spring didn't give them much time to participate in many FBLA activities because they had to prepare for the State Leadership Conference. Painter wanted them to participate in the SLC because of the opportunities it offers students.
"It gives our students the opportunity to polish their presentation skills as well as showcase their knowledge and to get recognized for their accomplishments," she said.
Despite the fact they were new and unfamiliar with the various competitions, marketing major Dustin Atik placed 5th in the marketing section.
"It was a great accomplishment in that this was the first time he had attended the event," Painter said. Atik said his competition involved a marketing test taken on the computer.
"It was an online test with 100 questions. It had a broad variety of questions dealing with marketing," he said. Painter was proud and pleased for the entire group.
"We were very proud of him and our other participants," she said.
Amber Absten competed in public speaking. Although she didn't place, she felt good about the speech she gave. The idea came from the death of a friend.
"It was titled, 'Time Well Spent.' My judges liked my speech, but they said it wasn't connected to the goals of FBLA," Absten said.
Absten has placed before in the public speaking competitions when she attended Buffalo High School, which has a large FBLA group.
"I placed 4 out of 37 one year, and 7 out of 42 another time. Everything is different. You have to excel. You have to spend a lot of work in your competition. This was our first time," Absten said.
As a matter of fact, Absten is the reason Winfield has re-established its FBLA group. The former Buffalo High student came to Winfield this year and found it too late to join most groups. Coming from the group at Buffalo, she decided to find out if students would be interested in forming an FBLA group at Winfield. She found three and they are looking forward to the 2009 SLC, and are even hoping to go to California, where the national FBLA competition will be located.
In addition, Painter said next year the group plans to do community service projects. Groups do such projects as coat and food drives, volunteering in nursing homes, and possibly the animal shelter.
Mostly, Painter said they would like to gain new members.
"We're beginning plans for next year. We want to grow and get more students interested. We want to triple our enrollment. That would be great," she said.
The four members who are juniors believe FBLA is beneficial for them. Michelle Price wants to go to West Virginia State after she graduates from Winfield High School. She said FBLA will help when she gets in the business field.
"They have a great business department. It (FBLA) will better educate you. College recruiters look at it," she said.
Dustin Atik wants to attend either Marshall University or West Virginia University and major in marketing or advertising.
"Since I'm majoring in marketing, I think FBLA will help me in a future position," he said. He's hoping to get financial help through soccer.
Whatever they do, they have a great backer in Diana Painter. She's their cheerleader, and genuinely cares about them.
"I love my students; I'm so grateful for them," Painter said.
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