From June 6 to June 8, members of Pittsburg State’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter traveled to Las Vegas to participate in the National Leadership Conference. These members qualified for the national competition by placing at the state level, and earned three national placements against more than 1,300 of the nation’s top business students.
Katelyn Burke, a senior accounting major, placed second in Computer Applications and ninth in Business Law. Spring 2026 graduate with a marketing and management major, Canyon Hendrikson, placed second in the Future Business Executive.
Taking on over 200 different schools, the competition is plentiful. “The level of competition at the FBLA National Leadership Conference is extremely rigorous,” FBLA advisor Melissa Weed explained. “Students first qualify through state competition before earning the opportunity to compete nationally against many of the best business students in the country. Events require students to demonstrate technical expertise, critical thinking, problem-solving, professionalism, and the ability to perform under pressure.”
She added, “Simply qualifying for nationals is a significant accomplishment, and placing at the national level is a testament to a student’s preparation, dedication, and ability to perform at an exceptionally high level.”
Because of this, students spend much of their time preparing and studying for their events. Burke explained, “The events I competed in were Computer Applications and Business Law. To prepare for Computer Applications, I practiced my skills and learned shortcuts in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Having utilized these applications in my schoolwork made it a whole lot easier. For Business Law, I prepared by studying a variety of business law concepts.”
Burke, who also placed third in last year’s competition, described the excitement she felt when the awards were announced.
“Finding out I placed at nationals was such an exciting moment! I actually had to miss the awards ceremony because I was at my internship, so I spent the whole day wondering how I did. That night, I stayed up until 11p.m. to watch the awards livestream, and hearing my name announced was so rewarding. It made all of the studying and preparation worth it, and I was so proud to see my hard work pay off on the national stage.”
Through FBLA, students are able to truly prepare for their futures in business.
“FBLA is more than just a student organization – it’s an opportunity for students to apply what they’re learning in the classroom to real-world business situations,” Weed said. “Through competitions, leadership opportunities, networking, conferences, and community service, students build technical knowledge alongside the soft skills employers consistently say they value most. Students leave FBLA with stronger communication, leadership, teamwork, professionalism, and confidence, while also building relationships with peers, faculty, employers, and business professionals from across the country.”
Burke described the knowledge and skills she has gained through the organization.
“Through FBLA, I have built confidence in networking and public speaking, while also developing strong technical, communication, and professional skills. In addition, I have formed valuable friendships and connections with peers and professionals that will continue to benefit me in my career.”
While reflecting well on the students themselves, the achievements of the members also speak to the quality of Pitt State’s business program as a whole.
“These competitions are incredibly valuable because they showcase the quality of our students and the education they receive at the Kelce College of Business,” Weed said. “Student success on the national stage reflects positively on our faculty, our programs, and the university while helping attract prospective students and strengthen relationships with employers and alumni. Just as importantly, these experiences help develop career-ready graduates who represent Pittsburg State University well long after they leave campus.”