The Mount Pleasant High School chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) had 12 students compete at the National Leadership Conference during the week of June 27-July 1 in Atlanta, Ga. bringing home a national award award and a national finalist.

MPHS Class of 2023 senior, Natalie Crockett, took 5th place in Healthcare Administration. For Crockett, her 5th place showing capped off an excellent year in FBLA as she finished 1st at both the area and state competition.

MPHS incoming senior, Mea Banda, advanced to finals in Client Service and finished among the top 15 in the nation. Banda actually placed 5th at state and was listed as a national alternate. After one of the top four finishers at state had to withdraw from Nationals, that opened the door for her to compete. Banda made the most of the opportunity by placing among the top 15 in the nation.

Along with competition, students had the opportunity to attend workshops, opening and closing ceremonies, explore the city, and take in some of the culture. Among the workshops that MPHS FBLA students attended was one on team building activities lead by MPHS incoming senior and Area 6 State Vice President, Sophie Greco, and her fellow state officers.

During the week while not competing or attending workshops, students had the opportunity to visit the city. They visited the World of Coca Cola Museum, the Martin

Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, the Ponce City Market, the Georgia Aquarium, the Atlanta Zoo, the Battery Atlanta, and an Atlanta Braves game. They also took a bus tour of famous homes on the Buckhead Mansion Tour and students also went on a Beltline Tour hike.

“This was such a successful trip in so many ways for MPHS FBLA and completed a long school year of hard work by our students,” FBLA Advisor John Whitten said. “From having Natalie place in the top five and Mea make the top 15 in the nation, to our students getting to explore a new city and make priceless memories, this was such a great trip. Our students represented MPHS so well. To reach this pinnacle of success just speaks volumes on how much hard work our students put in the year.”

Whitten continued, “I am so proud of how our students performed at Nationals and look forward to the upcoming school year. We will be hosting both the Fall Workshop and Fall Leadership Conference. Our students are stepping up in leadership roles with Sophie now as Area 6 State Vice President, Angelina Hernandez as Area President, and Gopi Amin as Area Parliamentarian. We look forward to a great 2023-2024 school year.”

Students competing for MPHS at Nationals were Natalie Crockett, Mea Banda, Reese Ball, Sophie Greco, Olivia Reed, Hope Powell, Anthony Orellana, Elijah Rider, Madison Carpenter, Perla Guzman, Kiara Rundles and Javier Vazquez.

For more information or to join MPHS FBLA, contact John Whitten at [email protected].

Photos:

1: MPHS FBLA National competitors visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. museum

2: MPHS FBLA members at National opening ceremonies

3: MPHS FBLA Advisor John Whitten (left) and Natalie Crockett (right)

4: Natalie Crockett (left) with her national 5th place trophy and national finalist Mea Banda (right)