UNK students win top honor, eight other awards at FBLA National Leadership Conference

Nine UNK students recently competed at the FBLA Collegiate National Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas. They’re pictured with adviser Theresa Yaw, a lecturer in the UNK College of Business and Technology. (Courtesy photo)

DALLAS – University of Nebraska at Kearney students won nine awards, including the most prestigious honor, at the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Collegiate National Leadership Conference.

Hosted Saturday through Monday in Dallas, Texas, the annual conference gives FBLA members from colleges and universities across the country an opportunity to network, attend leadership workshops and compete in events testing their business knowledge and skills.

More than 1,100 students attended the conference, with an average of 60 students competing in each event. The top performers were recognized Monday evening during the Awards of Excellence Ceremony.

UNK students placed inside the top 10 a total of nine times, with seven of the nine participating Lopers receiving recognition.

Courtney Cox of Alliance took first place in the future business executive competition, the premier event honoring outstanding FBLA members who have demonstrated leadership within the organization along with the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful business career.

Cox also finished second in the supply chain management competition. She served as president of the FBLA Collegiate chapter at UNK and graduated magna cum laude last month with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with emphases in accounting and finance.

Other UNK results include:
Connor Reeson of Omaha – fourth place, Foundations of Finance
Courtney Swisher of Halsey – fifth place, Foundations of Entrepreneurship
Cody Swinarski of St. Paul – sixth place, Business Communication
Haily Miller of North Platte – eighth place, Supply Chain Management; ninth place, Business Communication
Courtney Swisher and Ella O’Neil of Wauneta – ninth place, Management Case Competition
Nicholas Thieszen of Henderson – 10th place, International Business

FBLA is the largest business career and technical student organization in the world. The collegiate division is dedicated to inspiring and developing the next generation of leaders by preparing members for careers in business-related fields.