THOMASVILLE — Several Thomas County Central High School Future Business Leaders of America chapter members are California bound this summer.

Five of its entries in the 2017 Georgia FBLA State Leadership Conference and Competition, held March 12-14 in Athens, placed fourth or higher in their category and advanced to this summer’s FBLA National Leadership Conference and Competition.

Advisor Nicholas Haskin said, “while expectations were high,” state competition is never predictable.

“We took 45 students to state competition and qualified 10 students for nationals, and two teams were one place out of achieving nationals,” he said. “We could not be more proud of the hard work and dedication these students placed into their preparation and it showed in their presentations.”

Ellen Ponder, along with partner Ansley Jones, placed first in Social Media Campaign. They created an original television show, “Southern Royals” about Southern teenage social elites, and a social media campaign to promote its “premiere.”

“Euphoric is the word that comes closest to how I feel,” Ponder said of the win. “I kept imagining Ansley and I getting first, but I didn’t think it (was) actually happening. I was a huge, crying mess on stage when it was announced.”

Savannah Barrett and teammates Hayley Hoffs and Aaron Westbrook placed third in Graphic Design. Their topic was to create a family fun entertainment center; they chose a beach theme.

“I did not expect to place in nationals because this is my first year in FBLA,” Barrett said. “Being recognized as top in my state and moving on to nationals to compete is overwhelmingly humbling and awesome. Making it to nationals is an incredible opportunity, and I wouldn’t want to be a part of another chapter. Our chapter, overall, did outstanding!”

Hoffs feels “proud and accomplished” and said the placement “motivates” her “to do even better at nationals.”

There is “something very special” about this TCCHS FBLA group, Haskin adds, including its “amazing” student leadership, headed this year by chapter president Tyler Williamson and vice president Anna Jense. Haskin notes how the chapter’s members “really care for one another” and want success for their teammates as much as their own.

Williamson, who earned FBLA “Who’s Who” honors and is also the Region 1 president, said her chapter’s showing brings “overwhelming joy.”

“To have 10 students qualify to go to nationals is outstanding work, and each and every one of them worked extremely hard,” Williamson said. “I am also so very proud of all of those members who didn’t make it, and I hope it pushes them to do bigger and better things in FBLA next year.”

Haskin said the TCCHS FBLA chapter works hard to be a place where all members have a home and every student feels accepted “just as they are.”

FBLA “means the world” to Ponder, and she owes much of her growth to her involvement in the organization, including her choice of college major: strategic communications and graphic design.

“It’s part of the reason I got into college, because I wrote about FBLA,” she said. “FBLA really helped me mature and gave me intrinsic motivation to do better and always be confident.”

Hoffs joined FBLA because it would be something new and she thought it would be fun.

“With going to nationals, it (FBLA) has made me realize that working for what you want will pay off in the end,” she said.

Other TCCHS FBLA advisors are Michelle Ausley, Mindy Pierce, and Beth Adams. Haskin said they all “applaud” the members’ “hard work and dedication” and seeing these pay off through competition successes “makes it all worth it.”

National competition will be held June 27-July 2 in Anaheim, Calif. Advancing members will work hard between now and then to use state judges’ comments to improve their projects.

TCCHS FBLA State Top 10 Placers and National Qualifiers

*Tyler Williamson and Anna Jense (fourth place, Business Plan)

*Ellen Ponder and Ansley Jones (first place, Social Media Campaign)

*Savannah Grace Barrett, Hayley Hoffs, and Aaron Westbrook (third place, Graphic Design)

*Andrew Brock Reid (third place, Securities and Investments)

*Steven Tran and Dakota Beever (fourth place, Digital Video Production)

Faythe Choate, Caroline Fuller, Shivani Patel (fifth place, Social Media Campaign)

Jared Conley and Tyler Williamson (sixth place, Website Design)

Kenlie Harvey and Drew Lloyd (ninth place, Desktop Publishing)

Steven Tran and Brooklyn Reese (fifth place, Public Service Announcement)

Brock Reid and Aaron Westbrook (ninth place, Banking and Financial Systems)

Anna Jense (10th place, Job Interview)

(*denotes a national qualifier)