FBLA names Rebecca Rodriguez president
By:Emily Craighead
Manville High School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) are banking on officers’ experience and organization to carry them to a fourth consecutive appearance at the national competition in the spring.
"Last year’s group was really good," FBLA vice president, senior Michael Chabra said. "I hope we can meet and exceed what they did. It will be difficult, but we can attain it through strong leadership."
FBLA members officially opened the year by inducting eight new officers at an Oct. 25 ceremony at the high school.
In addition to Michael as vice president, this year’s officers include President Rebecca Rodriguez, Secretary Karyssa Snell, Treasurer Amy Aalinchus, Public Relations Officer Sarah Ortman, Historians Katy Walinchus and Dana Delesky, and Parliamentarian Amanda Weston. The eight officers are all seniors.
Although the group lost 35 seniors to graduation last spring more than in previous years FBLA Advisor Nancy Ostaszewski has high hopes for this year’s 100 members.
"There’s a lot more potential here that you didn’t see before because they were overshadowed by the seniors," Ms. Ostaszewski said.
Rebecca learned to stand out from the shadows at the summer leadership conference in Colorado where she competed in accounting.
"At the national conference, I didn’t think I was going to be speaking in front of 200 people from the Eastern Region," Rebecca said.
But she did, and this year she hopes to inspire her classmates to build the confidence and leadership skills that will take them through the regional and state competitions to represent Manville at the National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla., in June.
In addition to preparing for the regional competition Jan. 4, FBLA plans to take on several community service and fundraising projects throughout the year.
The group already held a candy sale, and in November members will join the Manville Education Association in hosting a veteran’s breakfast at the high school.
With nearly a quarter of the student body involved in FBLA, Manville has the third largest chapter in New Jersey. Rebecca attributes the group’s numbers and its success to Ms. Ostaszewski’s enthusiasm.
"We compete with all these schools that have tons of people and we still do well," Rebecca said.
According to Assistant Principal Mary McLoughlin, the group is an asset to the entire community.
"This puts Manville on the map for other schools," she said. "It’s a wonderful gateway into the business world, an introduction to working that gives them a taste of what it’s going to be like."
Suited up ties and heels, with accounting, technology and word-processing skills at the tips of their fingers, Manville’s young professionals in the FBLA are ready for that challenge.