Wallkill Valley FBLA members attend state conference
HAMBURG — Twenty-three members of the Wallkill Valley Regional High School chapter of Future Business Leaders of America participated in the 2015 FBLA State Leadership Conference at the Hilton East Brunswick on Feb. 26-27.
Alexa Batelli, Kayla Bifano, Fiona Brown, Gabriella Ciasullo, Laura David, Carly DeOliveira, Gina DiCristo, McKenzie Dunn, Nicole Fadel, Merinda Gruzsecki, Samantha Hutnick, Melanie Kardos, Allyson Lame, Vinny Limon, Megan Mamarella, Kyle McKenna, Connor Mendes, Sara Miceli, Vincent Moncelsi, Scott Mueller, Anna Pirozzi, Mikayla Savastano, and Ana Schroeder. The members were accompanied by Mrs. Carol Jurkouich, FBLA adviser, and Michael Brick, former Wallkill Valley FBLA member and current PBL member from Rutgers.
Members attended various leadership workshops and participated in various competitive events. The keynote speaker, Grant Baldwin, addressed the 1,800 New Jersey members and advisers at the opening session with his presentation, “Being a Difference Maker.” The following FBLA members who placed at the State Leadership Conference: Who’s Who in FBLA — Carly DeOliveira, first place; Battle of the Chapters – Vinny Limon, Scott Mueller, first place; Scrapbook – Arielle Stampone, first place; Desktop Publishing – Laura David, Nicole Fadel, first place; Desktop Publishing – Mikayla Savastano, fourth place; Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure – Ana Schroeder, third place; Community Service Project – Carly DeOliveira, Vincent Moncelsi, fourth place; Partnership with Business Project — Scott Mueller, Gabriella Ciasullo, fourth place; Gold Member Award – Scott Mueller; Gold Officer Award – Carly DeOliveira; Members of the Month – Kayla Bifano, Kyle McKenna, Scott Mueller, Alexa Batelli, Fiona Brown; Member of the Year – Fiona Brown; Local Chapter Adviser Service Recognition – Carol Jurkouich, 30 years; and Outstanding Local Chapter Adviser – Carol Jurkouich – Honors Scott Mueller was elected the 2015-2016 New Jersey FBLA Membership vice president. The chapter received the following additional awards: Outstanding Chapter 51+ Members – first place; largest chapter professional division – first place; Local Recruitment of Chapters – first place; March of Dimes in Northern Region – first place; March of Dimes Overall in New Jersey – first place; Local Chapter Annual Business Report – first place; Public Relations Award – Honors; Gold Key Award; Gold Seal Award of Merit; and Chapter Website Award of Merit. New Jersey FBLA honored the Wallkill Valley Business Person of the Year, Mr. Kenny Peereboom, owner of Prime Time Meats, and the Wallkill Valley Business Professional of the Year, Mr. Brad Carlson, from Bayer Healthcare.
The following FBLA members will now advance to the 2015 National Leadership Conference in Chicago in June: Carly DeOliveira – Who’s Who in FBLA; Laura David, Nicole Fadel — Desktop Publishing; Ana Schroeder — Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure; and Scott Mueller, 2015-2016 New Jersey FBLA State Officer. The Local Chapter Annual Business Report will also advance.