THOMASVILLE — For the ninth consecutive year, the Thomas County Central High School Future Business Leaders of America chapter is the Georgia FBLA Region 1 champ.

Region 1 Future Business Leaders Region Leadership Conference and Competition took place Friday, Jan. 17 in Moultrie. TCCHS took 68 students and returned with 93 medals, 40 state qualifiers and another region title.

“FBLA Region 1 consists of 16 counties,” TCCHS FBLA adviser Nicholas Haskin said. “No other school in the state of Georgia has won more region sweepstakes. We are especially proud because our chapter is so young (meaning grade levels of members). Our officer team, especially our seniors, encourages our members to prepare and study so that TCCHS can remain number one.”

Members are equally excited about this ninth consecutive region title.

“I’m extremely proud of TCCHS FBLA for retaining the region title because everyone has invested a lot of time and energy into preparing for their events and studying, and their work paid off,” sophomore Alyssa Barlow, 15, said.

Freshman Bishop Jackson, 15, is happy with the win.

“I am elated that the TCCHS FBLA chapter has continued its winning streak at region competition as this is a true testament to the dedication of our members and advisers,” he said.

Each year, it’s harder to retain the trophy because other chapters are growing and achieving as well, Haskin adds. But no one wants to be the first to break the streak, either.

“This streak of wins can be an intimidating motivator to our chapter as each class does not want to be the first class to lose,” Haskin said. “These students worked very hard to ensure that they would bring home the title. As advisers, there is no better moment than watching our students walk across the stage and earn honors for their continued hard work.”

Junior Emily Potter, 16, participated and placed in graphic design and publication design. Potter chose these events because of her creativity, previous design experience, and her desire to create something that would impress the judges.

“You are given several prompts and a scenario that you have to create and cater designs to,” she said. “This year, we had the scenario to create graphics for an upcoming band or artist.”

Barlow competed in the Introduction to Business Communication category. She is proud of her third-place finish, especially given she competed against juniors and seniors.

“It involves grammar, email etiquette, formatting, etc.,” Barlow said. “Grammar and communications typically come easy for me, so I decided to take this test.”

Jackson earned first place in Introduction to Information Technology.

“For my event, I took an exam a few weeks before traveling to the region competition,” he said. “The exam contained around 100 questions about several information technology concepts such as software, hardware and computer operating systems.”

Jackson is honored to win first at region. Currently, he ranks 17th of 327 contestants throughout the state. 

“I feel it is an honor to score this well out of so many other talented participants,” he said.

The 2020 FBLA State Leadership Conference and Competition is March 19-20 at the Atlanta Hyatt Regency.

Qualifying students will study, fine-tune presentations, and perfect their projects to prepare for state competition.

“All events (can) be improved by reading the judges’ critiques and using their constructive criticism to grow before state competition,” junior Sophia Kona, 16, who advanced in publication design and is currently ranked second of 60 state teams, said.

Barlow intends to keep studying.

“Our FBLA website has study resources and tools that can further my knowledge and help me score higher on the state test,” she said. 

Potter and her partner will work together to polish their designs and better their products

“We also plan to put together a good presentation that will capture our product and display it to the judges,” she said.

Jackson intends to add finishing touches to his coding and programming project, a state-only event.

“Coding this project helps me prepare for the Introduction to Information Technology exam because both involve computer software and hardware,” he said.

And members aim to continue enjoying their time in FBLA while honing their skills concurrently.

“I first joined FBLA as a club to go to during club time, but from the guidance of amazing officers and advisers, I have been able to really fall in love with the TCCHS chapter and the FBLA organization,” Potter said. “FBLA allows me to be a leader and role model while learning valuable skills needed for the fast and changing future. I have learned plenty of skills and much about life and leadership during my past three years of FBLA involvement. The one thing I love most about FBLA is the vast opportunities it has opened for me and the amazing people a part of it.”

Kona enjoys involvement in an organization comprised of various individual types and personalities while also improving her skills through competitions.

“It is always exciting to push yourself to do well and see the results,” she said. “It is even better when you are doing that with amazing people around who help push you to do your best.”

FIRST PLACE

Business Calculations: Zach Goff*

Business Plan: Ashlynn Hayes*, Claire Pope*

Economics: Austin King*

Electronic Career Portfolio: Loxley Slocumb*

Entrepreneurship: Jordan Curnalia, Jackson Emmett, Mason May

Graphic Design: Kendajah Cummings*, Emily Potter*

Introduction to Business Communication: Karsyn Bush*

Introduction to Financial Math: Whit Finch*

Introduction to Information Technology: Bishop Jackson*

Management Decision Making: Jessica NeSmith

Network Design: Donny Jones*, Jonathan Strickland*

Publication Design: Lilly King*, Sophia Kona*

Sales Presentation: Hayes Barwick*

SECOND PLACE

Business Calculations: Destini Cole

Electronic Career Portfolio: Ashlynn Hayes*

Help Desk: Jonathan Strickland*

Hospitality Management: Lilly King, Claire Pope

Parliamentary Procedure: Alyssa Barlow, Emily Bishop, Jack Cantrell, Dylan Conoley, Loxley Slocumb

Personal Finance: Caleb Kinneer*

Publication Design: Kendajah Cummings*, Emily Potter*

Sports and Entertainment Management: Ben Castillo, Roy Smith

Introduction to Public Speaking: Karsyn Bush*

Job Interview: Zach Goff*

Social Media Campaign: Kaylee Anuez, Catherine Mulford

Future Business Leader: Destini Cole

*denotes a state qualifier

OTHER STATE QUALIFIERS

Accounting 1: Jason Guo, Ben Castillo, Jose Francisco

Business Calculations: Alex Marquez, Caleb Kinneer

Business Communication: Alyssa Barlow, Kamryn Corbin

Economics: Jose Francisco, Madison Doughty, Megan Stewart, Bryce Barwick

Introduction to Business Communication: Campbell Smith, Grace Parkerson, Savannah Beasley

Introduction to Information Technology: Mason May, Luke Pierce, Whit Finch

Personal Finance: Jason Guo, Bryson Bennett, Christian Miranda