CTE Month: Crismon High School’s FBLA Brings Home 35 Medals At Regionals
Crismon High School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter proves that hard work and dedication pay off. Competing at Arizona State University among over 700 students from the East Valley, Crismon’s FBLA members earned a staggering 35 medals at the Region 2 competition.
“It was really exciting,” said Abigail Swartz, FBLA’s vice president of communications. “We got to compete with a whole bunch of people from different chapters, and it was cool to see everyone dressed up and bringing their best.”
For Crismon’s FBLA president, Ryland Johns, the experience was both inspiring and motivating. “It’s definitely hard to process when you leave the opening ceremony and realize there are 700 people there,” he said. “But it’s amazing to see everyone presenting themselves so well and competing at such a high level.”
Overcoming Challenges, Achieving Success
FBLA members competed in various business-related events, including parliamentary procedure, marketing, and business graphics. Abigail and Ryland are both members of the parliamentary procedure team, which earned 2nd place in regionals this year.
Abigail described parliamentary procedure as one of the most challenging competitions. “It’s nerve-wracking because the judges are tough, but they give us constructive criticism,” she said. “We’re getting better at remembering the rules and the flow, and we have a strong team this year.”
Ryland agreed, emphasizing the difficulty of events requiring memorization and critical thinking. “Some events allow you to have information in front of you, but in others, you have to retain everything you've learned,” he explained. “That’s one of the biggest challenges.”
In addition to their team’s success, Abigail and Ryland excelled in individual competitions at regionals this year. Ryland and team won 1st place in Intro to event planning and 3rd place in graphics for chapter sign, while Abigail and team earned 3rd place in marketing.
Preparing for Success
Under the leadership of FBLA advisor Tamara Tapia, students began preparing for competition as early as July. “Students meet monthly to plan out the schedule and determine which events they will participate in,” Tapia said. “Some complete their presentations as class projects, while others meet after school or practice on their own time.”
Students also had the opportunity to participate in mock competitions. “In November, we invited community members to serve as judges for a role-play event,” Tapia explained. “By December and January, students were presenting in front of peers to refine their skills.”
FBLA: More Than Just Competition
Outside of competition, FBLA plays a significant role in preparing students for the future. “It’s helped me improve my public speaking and interpersonal skills,” said Abigail. “Before FBLA, I was really shy, but now I feel more confident talking to people.”
Ryland added that the experience has helped him develop responsibility and time management skills. “When you’re competing, you have to be prepared—you can’t just show up last minute,” he said. “It’s taught me to stay on top of things and follow through.”
Crismon High School’s FBLA chapter has a history of excellence. Last year, the chapter earned a silver chapter designation at state and a gold chapter designation at nationals. At state in 2024, their chapter scrapbook won 2nd place, and their chapter t-shirt—designed by then-freshman and now FBLA President Ryland—placed 4th.
As Crismon’s FBLA members set their sights on competitions, their goal is clear: qualify for nationals and bring home even more medals. “Last year, we made it to nationals in our first year as a chapter,” said Johns. “This year, we want to win.”
With their strong work ethic, growing expertise, and support from their CTE courses and community mentors, there’s no doubt that Crismon High School’s FBLA students are on the path to continued success. For club opportunities that help your student develop leadership and business skills, enroll in QCUSD today!
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