Future Business Leaders of America recently received their results for the state competition. Two students from North Harford will join the winners from other states and territories in Chicago, Illinois this summer. “This year a record number of students competed all over the state so having a student place in the top ten is awesome,” according to Paraeducator and FBLA advisor Mrs. Victoria Bridges. With the number of students who placed, North Harford became one of the only two high schools in Harford County that placed, the other being Aberdeen High School, says Bridges. 

     The results of students who placed at states included senior Silvia Guevara-Martinez, who got first place in Accounting and qualified for Nationals, as well as sophomore Braxton Victor who got second place in Intro to Business Concepts and qualified for Nationals as well. Other students who placed at States but did not qualify for Nationals include sophomores Caleb DeHart, Kyle Difilippo, Caitlyn Travagline, as well as juniors Kyle Hoy, Piper Wright, and seniors Jessica Fannin, Jackie Bultman, Grace Herron, and Alex Lavitz.

     Learning about the “I was pretty excited, it’s a pretty big deal and I didn’t know it existed prior to this year. It’s good to know that I’m capable of this kind of thing against a decent number of pretty smart people,” Victor explains.

     Victor was not the only person excited about their qualification. Martinez says that she, “was really surprised to find out I got first, I didn’t expect to get this far in the first place and felt really intimidated by having to compete against people all over the state who have been in FBLA or learning about business longer than I have.”

     FBLA is also holding an awards ceremony as well, to recognize the achievements of the FBLA students. “The reason we’re doing the Awards Ceremony is because our kids have placed at regionals and state competitions. They are getting certificates for those who are placed.”

     A record-breaking number of students placed during the previous FBLA events this year, “19 of our students placed in the top ten at Regionals, and then 11 out of 15 students placed in the top ten at States. We’re going to reward these students and seniors will receive their cord,” says Bridges.

     Preparing for Nationals, which take place in Chicago, Illinois from June 29 to July 2, is on the horizon for the two FBLA members representing North Harford. “I really just prepared by paying attention in the business classes, because that’s what we’re tested on, the concepts we learned over the past two years. In the future, I might study more with the concepts that will be involved,” says Victor. 

     Martinez is looking forward to the event, “I’m not expecting to do as well as I did in regional and states because it’s Nationals, but I’m still planning on studying and doing my best to see what happens. I’m looking forward to the experience and the different events they’ll have there. I don’t know a lot about what nationals looks like because it’s my first year going, but I am excited about the fact it’s happening in Chicago because that’s where I’m going to college.”