Congratulations Pitman FBLA on your fantastic weekend at the Future Business Leaders of America State competition! Pitman sent five people to the national competition, located in Anaheim, this year; Jenner Berryhill, Benji Williams, Brian Austin, Andrew Baker, and Ashlyn Inman all qualified for nationals. Gina Lorenzi, Hunter Wright, Jake Jeziorski, Missy McClellan, and Julia Marson also placed at FBLAState. Also congratulations to our amazing supervisor Shawn Arnold who guided Pitman FBLA to where it is today.
I.D.s? Check. Luggage? Check. Sanity? Maybe not so much. Over thirty students were loading into vans to participate in the 2012-2013 FBLA State competition and excitement buzzed in the air. The chaperones frantically ran from one student to the next answering questions and assuring nervous competitors. We finally got on the road to Santa Clara around 4:30 pm and Pitman FBLA was ready to represent well at State.
The weekend was packed full of fun activities, intriguing workshops, and challenging events. The Pitman club was chaperoned by Ms. Bonner, Anna Campodonico, Shawn Arnold, and Paula Inman. We left right after school on Thursday the 18th and arrived home the following Sunday. Many students had events the very night we arrived and the rest of the competitors had their events Friday and Saturday. Events ranged from computer programming to marketing and everyone had a unique part of business to study. Students hurridly looked over last minute flash cards and hyped themselves up for their event.
On Saturday, almost the entire group went to Great America together to enjoy a day full of laughter and excitement. Many students challenged their courage by riding Top Gun and braved the waters on WhitewaterFalls. The group stayed together filling up entire roller coasters with Pitman Pride. Only a few suffered from sunburns and everyone who went had a wonderful time. With hearts light and wallets lighter we headed to the final awards ceremony.
The awards ceremony was held on Saturday evening; Pitman FBLA cheered loudly as student after student was called up for an award. As the evening drew to a close our chapter met for a final celebration for our national competitors. Every head slumped, excepting the driver, on the way home, and many naps were taken that day. The weekend went by quickly but the memories remain forever. Many senior FBLA members felt tears creep into their eyes as they stepped out of the white vans for the last time; many have made our chapter proud for two or more years. Goodbye and good luck to our graduation seniors.
Overall it was a fine year for Pitman FBLA; we wish good luck to the national competitors and have high hopes for next year’s chapter.
