DMACC Students Earn Top Honors at FBLA National Leadership Conference

DMACC students recently showcased their business skills on a national stage - earning a Top 3 finish at the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference.

Held June 6 - 8 in Las Vegas, Nevada, the conference brought together more than 1,300 students from nearly 200 colleges and universities across 29 states and territories. Participants competed in 42 business-focused events, attended professional development workshops, and networked with major employers and organizations.

Six DMACC students advanced to nationals after placing in the top three at the FBLA State Leadership Conference in February. At the national conference, they applied classroom knowledge through a mix of:

• Objective events (testing subject knowledge)
• Performance events (presentations, case studies, and interviews)

"DMACC FBLA students had an incredible opportunity to showcase their learning outside of the classroom by applying their knowledge to real-world scenarios," said Joe Hanson, DMACC FBLA adviser. "They also gained valuable networking and professional development experience as they prepare for their futures after college."

A team of DMACC students earned 3rd place in the nation in the Emerging Business Issues category: Ariana Balderas (Des Moines), Josephine Bond (Grimes), and Laci Cockrum (Carroll).

The following students represented DMACC in their respective events:

• Josephine Bond (Grimes) - Customer Service
• Raul Gonzalez Ramos (Carroll) - Foundations of Digital Design; Foundations of Marketing
• Ariana Balderas (Des Moines) - Foundations of Accounting
• Laci Cockrum (Carroll) - Parliamentary Procedure
• Mike Hardenbrook II (Des Moines) - Entrepreneurship Pitch
• Seth Randell (Coppell, Texas) - Business Ethics; Future Business Executive

In addition to competition, students participated in 60+ workshops and connected with employers and organizations such as the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP), FICO, and more. They also heard from entrepreneur Jared Ebersole, an FBLA alumnus and co-founder of Lectec, who shared insights on innovation, failure, and leadership.

About FBLA

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is a nonprofit organization serving more than 230,000 students worldwide. The organization prepares students for careers in business through leadership development, competitive events, and networking opportunities.

To learn more about FBLA at DMACC, visit dmacc.edu/student-activities/fbla