ANAHEIM, CA — Students from Delaware Valley schools won top prizes at the Future Business Leaders of America, Inc.’s (FBLA) National Leadership Conference (NLC). The event, held from June 29 to July 2, attracted more than 15,000 middle school and high school students, educators and volunteers from across the country. 

The NLC provides education, competition and networking opportunities centered on business. 

Nearly 11,000 students from more than 2,000 middle schools and high schools in 48 U.S. states and territories competed in 100 business-related events for cash prizes totaling over $120,000. Students also attended over 120 learning workshops and met with representatives from more than 260 colleges, universities and employers, including the Alzheimer’s Association, BusinessU, Empowerly, FICO, Men’s Wearhouse, MBA Research, National Retail Federation, National Technical Honor Society, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, the U.S. Coast Guard and many more. 

Additionally, students heard from keynote speaker and FBLA alumna Karissa Bodnar, founder and CEO of Thrive Causemetics and Bigger Than Beauty Skincare. Bodnar talked about her journey from high school entrepreneur to leading a globally recognized beauty brand. 

Award winners from Delaware Valley schools included:

Local Chapter Annual Business Report:  Anna Vogel and Bennett Nielsen, third place

Parliamentary Procedure: Joseph Benavides, Elizabeth Bailey, Carl Wallenberg and Shannon O’Leary, sixth place 

Broadcast Journalism: Bennett Nielsen and Anna Vogel, 10th place

Business Achievement Award, Capstone: Anna Vogel, 

top 15 

Community Service Project: Vidhi Patel, Queenie Yang and Grace Holderith, top 15

Annual Chapter Report: Lily Red, second place 

Video Game Design: Martha Nuhn, sixth place

Annual Chapter Report: Veronica Martin and Skarlet DePutron, fourth place

Exploring Business Issues: Veronica Martin and Skarlet DePutron, fifth place

Exploring Business Ethics: Deborah Kim and Shahed Bankasali Attar, ninth place

“We are incredibly proud of our students for their outstanding performance at this year’s National Leadership Conference,” said Audrey Dennis, FBLA adviser at Delaware Valley. “Their success on the national stage is a testament to their hard work, resilience and passion for business and leadership. Competing among the best in the country, they showcased their abilities and dedication. Beyond the awards, they’re leaving Anaheim with lifelong skills, experiences, and inspiration that will drive their future success.” 

For more information about FBLA, visit www.fbla.org.