North Carolina community college students earn 20 awards at Future Business Leaders of America Collegiate competition

Students and leaders from North Carolina community colleges won multiple awards and recognition at the 2023 Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Collegiate National Conference held in Atlanta, GA this summer.  

FBLA is the largest business Career and Technical Student Organization in the world, with more than 230,000 members preparing for careers in business. Students attend the national conference to network, attend workshops, and compete in events. Students from seven community colleges placed in the top ten for competitive events ranging from Computer Concepts to Hospitality Management to Client Services.  

Daniel Hazlett, State Executive Director for North Carolina FBLA Collegiate and instructor at Stanly Community College, has been a local chapter adviser for 50 years.  

“The awards national officer announcements concluded a very successful year for our state organization, and a great deal of that rests with our chapters at the community college level,” Hazlett said. “We love what we do in the classroom, but there’s a special pleasure in giving the interested students the extra experiences in leadership.  The culmination of the quality education and the student organization opportunities result in graduates that carry our influence beyond our careers.” 

At the conclusion of the conference, Toby Neal, a student at Stanly Community College, was announced the newly elected national president, North Carolina’s first national president and the first who will serve while a community college student. 

“FBLA Collegiate has opened so many doors for me to develop and use my leadership interests. I’m proud to represent SCC, Stanly County, and the North Carolina Community College System at the national level. I never anticipated or would have predicted such an honor when I enrolled, and I am appreciative of the encouragement I have received,” Neal said. 

Stanly Community College and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College were two of the three North Carolina chapters to receive National Gold Seal Chapter Designation, and Ms. Rebecca Haney from Isothermal Community College was recognized as one of the Outstanding Local Chapter Adviser award recipients for the year. 

“I have always said that one of the best things about working at a community college is that you get to see first-hand the results of your work, and a great number of those high-profile business and community leaders gained their confidence through their work in FBLA Collegiate,” Hazlett said. 

Based on written tests and presentations judged by panels of Atlanta and national business leaders, the top ten winners of competitive events were announced in nearly 50 events related to business and leadership. Below are North Carolina community college students that placed in the top ten of the competitive events. 

First Place 

• Client Service – Ebony McGhee, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College 

• Chrissty Berry – Sales Presentation, Wake Technical Community College 

• Stanly Community College – State of the Chapter, Presenter Toby Neal 

Second Place 

• Accounting Case – Jeremy Post and Caleb Schell, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College 

• Hospitality Management Case – Gage Barrier and Liz Lassing, Stanly Community College 

• Impromptu Speaking – Pace Rodriguez, Wake Technical Community College 

• Website Design – Camryn Jamison, Wake Technical Community College 

  Third Place 

• Computer Concepts – Bradley Huntoon, Wake Technical Community College 

• Future Business Executive – Toby Neal, Stanly Community College 

• Networking Concepts – Bradley Huntoon, Wake Technical Community College 

  Fourth Place 

• Client Service – Crystal Hudson, Isothermal Community College 

• Desktop Publishing – Camryn Jamison, Wake Technical Community College 

• Sports Management & Marketing – Madison Thomas, Stanly Community College 

  Fifth Place 

• Impromptu Speaking – Toby Neal, Stanly Community College 

  Seventh Place 

• Business Sustainability – Linda Atisa, Durham Technical Community College 

• Management Analysis & Decision Making – Chloee Thomas, Stanly Community College 

• Sales Presentation – Crystal Hudson, Isothermal Community College 

  Eighth Place 

• Public Speaking – Chrissty Berry, Wake Technical Community College 

  Ninth Place 

• Foundations of Accounting – Caleb Schell, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College 

• Programming Concepts – Stephen Johnson, Central Piedmont Community College 

There are FBLA Collegiate chapters at the following community colleges: Central Carolina, Central Piedmont, Durham Tech, Fayetteville Tech, Guilford Tech, Isothermal, McDowell Tech, Rowan-Cabarrus, Stanly, and Wake Tech. Membership is open to all students with interests in business awareness, leadership growth, and professional development.