Carson High School business students look for donations for nationals

Ricky Garcia, 18, is preparing for the entrepreneurship competition at the National Future Business Leaders of America Convention in Atlanta on June 26-July 3.

“They give you a situation and you have to come up with a solution,” he said. “That’s something you have to know how to do in life, whether it’s in business or just personal stuff.”

The Adams Hub donated $2,800 to the chapter, and is calling on the community to match the funding.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some of these kids,” said adviser Angila Golik. “They get to travel and see a part of the country they’ve never seen before. We’ve done fundraisers all year, but we’re still short.”

Students will compete across a range of skills, including business plan, entrepreneurship, future business leader, job interview and public speaking.

“We get to see what competition is like in the rest of the nation,” Shaylin Segura said. “We’ll see the best of the best.”

Between competitions, they will be participating in workshops, such as resume writing and how to make a good first impression.

Outside of the conference, students will be learning as well.

Entrepreneurship teacher and FBLA adviser Billy McHenry has organized several outings, including a tour of his brother-in-law’s second marketing software business. He sold his first business to IBM for $40 million.

“He uses what he learned in FBLA every day doing what he does,” McHenry said. “To be able to meet someone who’s actually taking these skills and using them as a successful serial entrepreneur is pretty cool.”

The club took 23 students to the state conference April 24-26 in Reno where they had a record 31 top-10 finishes in business-related competitions.

They also placed eighth overall in the state for total chapters

“This is the first time we’ve ever placed in the Nevada Chapter Sweepstakes,” Golik said. “This is an impressive ranking considering we had 23 students compared to other clubs that took upwards of 50 students to the event.”

Sophia Wade, 17, said the club prepares students for a more successful life.

“Business applies to everything,” she said. “No matter what you do in your life, you’re going to need to take out a mortgage or a loan for college.”

To donate, go tohttps://www.gofundme.com/227tdp5e or send a check to CHS FBLA c/o Angila Golik P.O. Box 603 Carson City 89703.