Hundreds of Future Business Leaders of America middle and high school students attend daylong conference at GSU
By STEPHANIE LINDSEY
GSU Media Bureau
Terry Walker Jr. seems every bit a shy teenager, quiet and composed. But the Homer, Louisiana, native is quite accomplished.
Walker, a senior at Homer High School, plays power forward for his school’s basketball team, the Pelicans. He is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He maintains a 3.2 GPA. He is vice president of District 1 of the Future Business Leaders of America in Louisiana (FBLA), a national student business organization that aims to equip middle and high school students with the skills necessary for careers in business.
He will lead his district conference at Grambling State University Thursday (Feb. 2) when 600 middle school and high school students converge upon Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center for their annual District 1 Conference. “As vice president of District 1 it is my job to lead, keep things in order …,” said Walker, who plans to attend Grambling State University as a business major.
Ellen Smiley, GSU’s interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, said the university is excited to have the opportunity to host hundreds of FBLA students. “Grambling State University, like other higher education institutions promote the “town and gown” relationship,” she said. “We embrace a culture that unites us with the community towards common goals. … To host this group of energized competitive scholars is an honor within itself.”
Columbia University’s Hamden L. Forkner founded the group in 1932. In 1947, the first Louisiana chapter was established at Natchitoches High School. In 1950, Louisiana established a national chapter. Today there are 150 chapters with over 4,600 members in six districts. District 1 includes Caddo, Bienville, Desoto, Bossier, Webster and Claiborne parishes.
FBLA understands that some students won’t continue in business, according to David Robinson, the District 1 state committee representative. “FBLA prepares students for careers in business, even if they aren’t necessarily going to take the business track when they go to college, but it prepares them for speaking and networking with others regardless of the major they choose,” he said.
Smiley said the conference is a great opportunity for Grambling State faculty, staff and students to interact with future college students. The conference will give them a glimpse into what life is like at a university, the interaction may help push them toward pursuing a college degree.
Meeting a university president, walking on a college campus, sitting in a college classroom, hearing the band play, and seeing real Grambling students and professors could be the deciding factor between going or not going to college. When asked why Grambling was chosen as the host Robinson replied, “We want to expose the students to college, that is the purpose of hosting the conference at a college campus.”
“The conference will allow our students to showcase the university through our many student organizations, spirit groups, and academic departments,” added Smiley, who said the World Famed Tiger Marching Band and the university cheer squad would entertain the group. “ One of these groups is Phi Beta Lambda Incorporated, which is the university equivalent of FBLA.”
The students will begin registration at 7:30 a.m. at the Hobdy Assembly Center. A general session, open to the public, will follow at 8:15. During the general session, GSU President Rick Gallot and Homer High School Principal Lee Simms will give greetings, and Walker will recognize FBLA chapters. The band and cheerleaders will provide some GSU spirit during the session.
The conference is an opportunity for these students to show their business and leadership skills in several different areas. Rather than sitting and listening to lectures much of the day, the student participants will give and listen to speeches, learn job interviewing and public speaking skills and take accounting, business calculations and securities and investments tests. In addition, they will be engaged with team activities focused on current events, entrepreneurship and parliamentary procedure.
Though most of the conference is for the students, the public is invited to the 2 p.m. closing session when award winners will be announced, and Walker’s first vice president successor will be announced.
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