Business professionals help students prepare for state

FAIRFIELD - Fairfield High School students preparing for the state contest in Future Business Leaders of America received a helping hand from adult judges both in Jefferson County and around the country.

Each year, the Fairfield chapter of FBLA holds a showcase where students make presentations to a slate of local judges in the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center. They use feedback from the event to hone their presentation skills before the state contest. Holding the showcase in person was not possible this year, so the event moved online, and was held over two days, March 1-2.

Bonnie Hilger, a member of the organization Friends of Student Business Leaders, said 20 judges from near and far worked with 31 Fairfield FBLA students. Hilger said that, for a virtual showcase to be successful, the students have to come prepared for their test or presentation.

'All that preparation occurs outside the general classroom,” Hilger said. 'It requires ambition, self-motivation and drive.”

Beth Ward, another member of Friends of Student Business Leaders, said the Fairfield chapter of FBLA is one of the few chapters that gives its students the opportunity to practice like this before the state contest. 'This event could not happen without the cooperation of numerous community members and the Friends of Student Business Leaders volunteering their time to assist these students,” Ward said. 'Students were well prepared and numerous judges complimented the students on their composure, knowledge, and maturity.”

Deb Matthews, FBLA adviser and business instructor at Fairfield High School, thanked Hilger and Ward for their leadership in making the showcase a success. She said her FBLA students have done an awesome job this school year being flexible about practices, which have been conducted in person and online, She appreciated members of the community stepping forward to serve as judges for the showcase to give the FBLA students a nice tuneup before the state competition April 1-2.

Fairfield Community School District Activities Director Jeff Courtright was asked to be a judge at the showcase, which he's done before. He said he was impressed at the organizers' ability to adjust the format to work online, so that the experience was as close as possible to an in-person showcase.

'All of the students were well prepared, professional and very impressive,” Courtright said. 'It was a great event, and it allowed me the opportunity to learn right alongside the students.”

The judges reported being impressed with how prepared the students were. Judge Julie Fiske said she appreciated how the students desired honest feedback, and not just positive comments, so they could learn and grow. Diane Goudy, the former high school FBLA adviser who served as a judge this time, said holding a virtual showcase was a huge undertaking.

'I am so proud of the Friends of Student Business Leaders Group, as well as Mrs. Matthews, the students and the community all showing their support,” she said.

Goudy said a number of former FBLA students have contacted her years after leaving the program to tell her how much it helped them boost their confidence.

Judge Jeff Hughes, the associate director of source marketing at Cambridge Investment Research, said having the showcase be virtual might have the unintended upside of giving the students another chance to work with technology and learn how it applies to a global economy, where 'this is the norm when dealing remotely with work opportunities.”

Judge Josh Laraby, executive director of Fairfield Economic Development Association, complimented the FBLA students on their preparedness, professionalism and ability to deliver above expectations.

'Our future is bright with their leadership ahead,” he said.

The FBLA students themselves reported learning a lot from the showcase, and were thankful it did not have to be canceled. Hannah Bergren said she was pleased there was still a way to hold showcase even during the pandemic. Lauren Kraemer said showcase helps students prepare for the state leadership conference.

'Even though showcase was virtual, it went smoothly, and it was a great experience,” Kraemer said. 'I got some great feedback from my judges that was very helpful.”

Sarah McAvan said the judges gave constructive feedback, and the experience made her excited for the state competition.

'I feel that I am now more prepared to compete,” McAvan said.

Delaney Breen said this year's showcase was basically the same as prior years, just without an audience.

'I learned a lot and I am glad we pursued the event virtually,” Breen said.