Thomas County Central FBLA wins 12th consecutive region title

Published 11:48 am Tuesday, January 31, 2023

THOMASVILLE – Winning a championship never is a small feat. Now imagine bringing home a title for 12 consecutive years. That’s the feeling Thomas County Central High School Future Business Leaders of America members share as the chapter just went 12-peat at the 2023 Georgia FBLA Region 1 Conference and Competition. 

TCCHS FLBA won the region title and came home with 34 first-place, 11 second-place, and 13 third-place finishers, plus 31 other placers.

“Being the only school in the state to win 12 consecutive region conferences really speaks for itself,” junior Shane Sanford said. “We won because we showed up and loved doing what we do.”

Head adviser Nicholas Haskin said the pressure was on to retain the region title, but the moments that brought him the most joy was watching his students succeed.

“While the accomplishments and medals are great, there is no greater joy for a teacher/adviser than to watch your students walk across that stage, earn their award(s), and see their faces light up as they realize their achievements,” he said.

Ninth-grader Kate Griffith feels proud to be part of this year’s winning chapter.

“It feels really good to be able to say that I contributed to the 12th win in a row because everyone worked hard and gave their all to keep the title,” she said. “Our FBLA team is always ready to give their all and strive to do their best.”

Members say many components help their chapter be successful, but the constant is outstanding leadership, like Haskin.

“He always helps kids find what they are best at and then supports them,” Griffith said. “I would say that our chapter would agree he is always a positive figure there to serve others.”

Sanford concurs.

“Mr. Haskin may not be able to personally attend all 70 competitors, but his influential leadership and resilience have remained infectious in the minds of young leaders,” he said. “Great leadership single-handedly elucidates our chapter’s success.”

Haskin said the chapter shares its success with the school’s business education department, the entire faculty, and other FBLA advisers, Dr. Beth Adams, Brandi Miranda, Mark Thompson and Allie Wilson.

“It really is a team effort, and we would not have the success we enjoy without students preparing for events, parents encouraging their children to give their all, and my amazing co-advisers who will give everything to watch our students succeed,” he said.  FBLA competition features a multitude of categories. Griffith won first place in Intro to Public Speaking. She created a speech about her greatest concern for her future and memorized it to present to the judges.

“It means a lot to me that I placed first because I worked hard to form a speech, and it took confidence and composure to speak in a room with four judges, not knowing what was to come,” Griffith said. 

Sanford said he’s content with his region placements: two first-place finishes in Web Design and Client Service. He said his victories honor those members who carried the torch in previous years.

“I couldn’t be more thankful to be a part of the team for the last two years, filling all 12 spots on the sweepstakes trophy,” he said.

Sanford’s Web Design win, where he developed and designed a site for a digital marketing agency, is an especially memorable accomplishment – because he didn’t expect to compete in the presentation portion of his category. However, when he arrived at region competition, he was told he had an hour before he presented. 

“Luckily, I was passionate about my website and won the event,” he said.

Next up is the 2023 Georgia FBLA State Leadership Conference and Competition March 9-12 in Atlanta. Haskin said state qualifiers should finalize in February after all region competitions conclude.

“Competing against 3,500 of the smartest students in the state of Georgia takes an ‘individual’ dedication that we cannot force,” he said. “SLC success depends on each student giving their all for the chance to walk across that stage, earn their award, qualify for nationals, and join their place among the ‘legends’ who have blazed a trail before them. I have no doubt they will make me proud – they already have!”