The FBLA State Leadership Conferences was held March 24 – 26, 2024. Due to poor weather conditions our members competed virtually. Members attending the conference included Jacqueline Juarez, Olivia Mitchell, Betty Fang, Meagan Halle, and Allison Halle. All students chose two business or IT events in which to compete. Devils Lake had three members place. 

• Olivia Mitchell - 1st Place, Business Plan, Advocate Level Business Achievement Award (BAA)

• Meagan Halle, 3rd Place: Computer Applications, Contributor Level BAA 

• Betty Fang, 7th Place: Business Concepts, Contributor Level BAA

Devils Lake High School student Olivia Mitchell recently attended the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) National Leadership Conference. The event was held in Orlando, Florida from June 24 to July 2. More than 12,000 students competed in over 100 business-related events. Olivia, who will be a high school senior this fall, represented the Lake Area Career and Technology Center’s (LACTC) FBLA chapter in the Business Plan category. Olivia qualified for the event last spring when she placed 1st at the FBLA State Leadership Conference. The event required Olivia to create a professional Business Plan report and presentation for judges. Along with the competition the National Leadership Conference also provided Olivia with the opportunity to attend motivational and educational sessions, network with other FBLA students from across the country, and engage in a business-based leadership workshop.

The LACTC FBLA chapter would like to thank several community and school organizations for their support which allowed us to attend the NLC this year including: the DLPS School Board, DLYA, Devils Lake Kiwanis, Devils Lake Rotary, NDTC, Bremer Bank, Western State Bank, Daniels & Burdick CPA, Devils Lake Cars, First United Bank, SmileQuest, and Ms. Jenny Steinhaus and the Culinary Arts Program. The National Leadership Conference is a wonderful experience and the support that was provided by these organizations is so appreciated.

Our chapter would also like to pay special recognition to the efforts of the late Vickie Borho. For several years Vickie took time out of her already busy schedule to aid us with our fundraising efforts. She gave selflessly of her time and energy and never asked for anything in return. We will always be grateful for the opportunities that we were afforded due to her efforts. Things will not be the same without her.