Mercy Academy students showcase leadership skills at FBLA conference

A record number of Mercy Academy students participated in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Region 3 Conference in March, bringing home top honors, along with enhanced knowledge and experience in leadership.

Hosted in downtown Louisville, the conference featured over 1,100 students from across the state competing. Mercy Academy had over 120 participants/competitors in the event.

The conference featured over 90 competitive events, with a wide range of topics that cover many industries. Topics included Accounting, Business Law, Broadcast Journalism, Coding & Programming, Data Analysis, Digital Animation, Economics, Graphic Design, Health Care Administration, Human Resources Management, Job Interview, Marketing, Public Policy & Advocacy, Public Speaking, Sales Presentation, Supply Chain Management, Web Design and many more. Some events are objective tests, some are projects and presentations, and some are live interviews and role plays.

In total, Mercy Academy had 75 students qualify for state in 42 different events. These students placed in the top three of their events and will now move on to compete at the state level on April 14 through 16 at the Galt House in Louisville.

FBLA is an education association that prepares students for careers in business and business-related fields. Students participate in challenging competitions, and receive career preparation, as well as network with other high school business students from around the state.

Deica Brown serves alongside Beth Turpin as an FBLA adviser at Mercy Academy. She also serves as a Business Technology teacher, teaching Broadcast Journalism, Multimedia Marketing & Design and Freshman Tech, and serves as the Warde House Dean at Mercy Academy. Turpin has been teaching at Mercy for 40 years, teaching Accounting, Economics, Yearbook, Personal Finance, Personal Investment, Medical Office Procedures and Leadership. She is the Business & Technology Department Chair and the Sophomore Moderator as well. Both advisers also serve on the Region 3 Board and help with the planning and implementation of the conference.

Brown said the recent conference helped students develop essential soft skills needed for success in high school, college, the workforce, and their future careers. She emphasized that participants have the chance to work in teams and collaborate with peers. Through meeting deadlines and preparing for their events, they build time management and organizational skills. Additionally, students have opportunities to take on leadership roles, both big and small. At FBLA conferences and events, they are encouraged to network with other students from across Kentucky, a skill that is valuable in every industry.

"They are stepping out of their comfort zones and trying something completely different, because we tell these young women they can do anything, and we push them to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way," Brown said.

Mercy Academy's impressive showing at the conference reflects the school's ongoing commitment to boosting FBLA participation and fostering leadership skills among students. With 120 participants/competitors this year, up from just 50 in 2022, the increase highlights the growing engagement. While Brown emphasized that winning trophies is exciting, the main focus of the conference is on developing leadership qualities and building students' confidence.

"We have seen very shy students who would have never chosen to speak in front of a small group, now confidently speak in front of over 1,000 people and are able to lead sessions on FBLA topics at leadership development conferences," Brown said. "We've seen students find new passions they may not have been exposed to without FBLA. We've introduced FBLA to the artists, the programmers, the aspiring lawyers, journalists, marketers and designers who didn't think there was a 'business' event that would be for them."

In addition to the Region 3 Conference, other FBLA events hosted throughout the year include the Mercy FBLA opening chapter event, bi-monthly chapter meetings, the Region 3 Fall Leadership Development Workshop, the National Fall Leadership Conference, the KY State Leadership Conference, the Summer Leadership Development Camp and the National Leadership Conference. Mercy Academy also recently hosted the third annual Character Breakfast, which is organized by students and acts as the yearly student enterprise project. Mercy's FBLA chapter hosts regular chapter meetings led by officers, and the chapter has sponsored a new middle school chapter, which has also successfully competed. The middle school chapter is designed to provide students with exposure to FBLA earlier and have the opportunity to pursue officer positions and aspirations.

Brown said FBLA provides participants with opportunities to prepare for life after high school, no matter what path they take.

"We want them to have these experiences to continue to build and develop the whole person while gaining more knowledge, leadership and enhancing their soft skills, and most importantly, self confidence and the drive to try new things," she said. "We encourage them, push them and build them up while also holding them accountable for their work."

To learn more about FBLA at Mercy Academy, click here.

Mercy Region 3 competitors that qualified for the KY State Leadership Conference:

First Place Winners:
Hailey Baete, Lilly Beatty, Brittany Bockting, Jules Church, Avery Coleman, Olivia Eisert, Bailey Ernst, Madeline Freeman, Kyla Greathouse, Sydney Grieshaber, Caitlin McCauley, Molly Meagher, Havy Nguyen, Maggie Schadt, Melanie Schmidt, Abby Shores, Madison Suddith, Lily Sumner (x2), and Kyndall Wintergerst-Weston

Second Place Winners:
Nora Brown, Alyssa Carter, Leah Cheatham, Mali Cochran, London Coleman, Ella Craig, Gretchen Crawford, Sydney DeZarn, Olivia Eisert, Gill Glaser, Hannah Gohmann, Molly Grantz, Calli Hanke, Daxtin Hogg, JaMyah Johnson, Ce'Kiya Lacy, Jocelyn McGregor, Rubi Messer, Sierra Molnar, Ruth Paumier, Bella Scurlock, Kamryn Sivori, Brooklyn Smallwood, Ella Sullivan, Monica Tanner, Vivi Thompson, Ella Williamson, Kira Woo, Natalie Woodford, and Abbie Woolie

Third Place Winners:
Lydia Alvarez, Mallory Barnhart, Grace Coleman, Grace Carden, Kinsley Cummings, Caroline Cronen, Mia Dunlap, Aubrey Engler, Bailey Ernst, Audrey Farmer, Meredith Feger, Kendall Fuderer, BrookeLynn Gittings, Juliana Glaser, Hannah Grosshans, Kayla Kolb, Sydney Lee, Claire Manchak, Vivienne McDonald, Allison Owens, Olivia Pifer, Anna Ramsey, Evelyn Schulte, Ellie Sharpe, Riley Shellman, Carly Shephard, Layla Stewart, Karley Szabo, and Ella Williamson