EPHRATA — Future Business Leaders of America is the largest career and technical organization in the U.S., said J. Ryan Shannon, a communications teacher and advisor for the FBLA chapter at Ephrata High School. 

“It’s the largest career and technical student organization in the country, facilitating students learning and opportunities within the business community and learning the skill sets that will help them be successful in various aspects of business, whether that be the actual operational or the technical side of the business,” he said. 

Aided by fellow EHS teachers Scott Sandberg, Katie Cummings and Keeva Kimble, Shannon helps EHS FBLA’s 81 members work on a variety of projects in multiple fields to develop the skills they need to pursue a variety of careers. Skills have a wide range of fields from broadcast journalism to client services and simply understanding how to conduct themselves professionally as they network or develop relationships in a work environment, Shannon said. The various fields of development are evaluated in three categories at state-level competition: objective testing, roleplaying and presentations. 

The testing involves proctored tests on a variety of topics. Roleplay involves an exam and presentation that may involve any sort of business scenario that comes to mind. Zander Leasher, vice president of EHS FBLA, said he’s had to roleplay through helping someone with an insurance claim in one competition, and in another, he aided a hypothetical family address an inheritance after the family patriarch died. 

“For client service, they give you a prompt 10 minutes before you’re supposed to act in the situation of the prompt, so you only have a couple of minutes to figure out what you’re doing,” Leasher said. “... This year for regionals, there was the prompt of getting investments back from the deceased father, so that was an interesting event to do, and I placed first within the region for it this year, then last year I placed second (for the insurance claim).”

Kaila Benavente, who like Leasher is in her second year competing in FBLA, said the organization has helped her find her passion for journalism. When she first joined FBLA, she had planned on going to college to work in the medical field. After getting engaged in the video production side of FBLA — the organization runs Tiger Vision and produces podcasts and covers a variety of events for the Ephrata School District — Benavente said she fell in love with how video productions come together and with organizing them. That passion has led her to a leadership role in FBLA. 

“I mean, just like Shannon said, I feel like it made me realize how to really become a leader,” she said. “I mean, with my broadcast journalism. I’m the head producer, so I tell everybody what to do, and I’m the one that’s making the final cuts, saying the final say-so in all of that. And, I realized how much I like to do that — to be a leader and, you know, be the front person, to be that producer.” 

FBLA has also helped both students learn technical skills. 

Leasher said he has developed the skills necessary to broadcast EHS graduations and other events, as well as utilizing robotic cameras and other equipment to ensure high-quality productions. 

Benavante said she’s learned how to edit video, use a new camera she’d gotten for herself and work with others to ensure productions come out the way they’ve been envisioned.

Both students are headed to state competition this April, along with several of their peers, Shannon said. The group has grown significantly in recent years and the students have shown a dedication to excellence that he’s been happy to see.

That’s led to 34 of the current group of 81 qualifying for state competition and he’s hoping for a healthy showing at nationals as well.

“The last two years we haven’t had a lot of kids go. Two years ago, one. Last year, two kids. This year, I think that we have the potential to have 10 to 12 kids qualify for nationals. Hopefully. I mean, that’s my goal,” Shannon said. 

Given the growth of the organization, that may not be unreasonable. Shannon said a few years ago, only four or five students were inFBLA. Last year, the EHS chapter boasted about 50 participants and this year’s 81 students shows a lot of potential.  

That competitive drive comes with a cash-money cost, though. Shannon said sending a student to state competition costs about $400. With 34 going, that comes out to about $13,600 for everyone to make it to the competition in Spokane that will be held April 24-27. Funds from a snack machine on campus helps support FBLA, as does some of the budget for Tiger Vision and a few other in-school sources, but that isn’t enough to cover it. Since Ephrata has a small school district and FBLA isn’t a sport, transportation and accommodations aren’t paid for by the district. Students are out fundraising but with such a large target to hit, he is hoping the community will step forward with donations to ensure everyone can participate. 

“Our (Career and Technical Education) Department does help out, but that’s not really what their overall mission is to do,” Shannon said. “Really, it comes from what the students do to raise that money themselves.” 

Costs will come up again if students qualify for national competition, Shannon said. Sending a student to nationals is roughly $2,000 per FBLA competitor. 

Students are out making contacts, though. They recently attended the Ephrata Chamber of Commerce board meeting to present what they do and ask for the board’s support. 

That sort of thing not only helps get donations, it supports FBLA’s goals of getting students in front of community organizations to deliver pitches, network and learn from community members, Shannon said. 

It’s understandable that Ephrata’s business owners and residents get a bit worn out by the asks from student organizations, Shannon acknowledged. That’s why he feels it’s important to have those one-on-one meetings so potential donors can meet the students and understand what their money is going for. He’s also working to set up some regular funding sources that are cyclical rather than asking for donations regularly. That will take some time, but he’s working with the Columbia Basin Foundation to find ideas to move that forward. In the meantime, he’s hoping people will donate for this year’s competitions, he said.

In return, they’re helping students build the skills they need for bright futures, he said. While their specific projects in FBLA may not produce products that are directly related to their career goals, they have elements that can be put toward any career. 

Leasher said his work as a video producer and on various projects in FBLA have already garnered him the skills he needs to pursue his career — as a firefighter.

“I used some of the skills I acquired during the job interview phase of last year’s (competition) to get my current job as a volunteer firefighter for (Grant County Fire District 13), and then I’ve also used my client services just helping out around my mom’s shop,” Leasher said. 

R. Hans “Rob” Miller may be reached at editor@columbiabasinherald.com.

Participating students: 

The 34 students listed below have qualified to participate in Future Business Leaders of America state competition in Spokane this April. 

Luis Arizmendi Mendoza - Visual Design

Romeo Arreola Morales - Visual Design

Kassandra Estrada Rangel - Visual Design

Leslie Balbuena - Health Care Administration & Public Speaking

Kaila Benavente - Broadcast Journalism & Digital Video Production

Cody Black - Broadcast Journalism

Baylie Broesch - Graphic Design, Visual Design & Website Design

Uriel Bustos Nuno - Introduction to Programming

Landon Coe - Personal Finance, Supply Chain Management & Graphic Design

Dawson Davis - Personal Finance

Aidan Devine - Sports and Entertainment Management

Lillian Diediker - Broadcast Journalism

Landon Evenson - Broadcast Journalism

Hannah Fitts - Introduction to Programming

Makaena Judkins - Sports and Entertainment Management

Connor Leasher - Networking Infrastructures

Zander Leasher - Broadcast Journalism, Digital Video Production & Client Service

Kate Maedke - Visual Design

Caylee Mattson - Business Ethics

Brandon McCord - Sales Presentation

Addison Mills - Broadcast Journalism

Caleb Moberg - Broadcast Journalism

Dayana Nolasco Gomez - Graphic Design, Visual Design, Computer Applications & Word Processing

Dorismar Ochoa Sanchez - Business Calculations, Personal Finance & Securities and Investments

Richard Reimers - Personal Finance

Paisley Ribble - Broadcast Journalism

Micah Sandberg - Introduction to Programming & Introduction to Information Technology

Regan Shannon - Business Law, Introduction to FBLA, Introduction to Programming & Journalism

Devin Smith - Digital Animation

Alessa Soto - Visual Design

Brenden St. Mary - Broadcast Journalism

Guillermo Valencia - Visual Design

Nikita Vozniy - Sales Presentation

Bella Wallen - Introduction to Business Procedures & Visual Design

Want to support FBLA? 

To donate to help this year’s EHS students make it to FBLA state or national competition, contact Ryan Shannon at rshannon@ephrataschools.org. Checks may also be mailed to the high school or dropped off at the front desk. Checks should be made payable to Ephrata High School with the note indicating that the funds are in support of FBLA. 

    Ephrata FBLA member Kaila Benavente on stage during competition.
  

    Ephrata FBLA member Addison Mills. The school’s chapter has grown a lot over the last two years, said advisor J. Ryan Shannon.
  

    Zander Leasher, Ephrata FBLA, on stage during competition. The chapter is sending 34 of its members to state competition in April.
  

    Micah Sandberg gives a speech during FBLA competition. Sandberg, an Ephrata High School sophomore, is the organization’s North Central Region vice president.