PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. (Sept. 26, 2016)—The Board of Education of Calvert County Public Schools recognized the Northern High Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members for their second place win at the national competition. The team-led by advisors Nancy Wilt and Theresa Jackson, plus student project coordinators Alissa Lambert, Tommy O'Brien and Christian Kincaid-beat out over 90 other state-level winners at the conference held in Atlanta, Georgia last summer.
"The students and teachers involved in the FBLA program at NHS are outstanding each year with their focus on serving the community in some way," said Dr. Daniel D. Curry, Superintendent. "We're proud of them."
Their project, entitled Partnership with Business, supported End Hunger in Calvert County and chronicled the team's efforts through the year. Students spent over 400 hours volunteering for End Hunger, including working at the organization's fundraisers, volunteering at the End Hunger warehouse, organizing a schoolwide food drive and promoting awareness of food insecurity in the community. Notably, students also broadened their own knowledge of the tax system by helping low-income residents file their taxes for free at End Hunger's Calvert Cash program.
Team sponsor Nancy Wilt, a business teacher at Northern High, said, "The students became passionate about the spirit of volunteerism. They understand the key role of non-profits within our local, state and national economies."
The students qualified to attend the national conference by finishing in first place at the FBLA Maryland Spring State Leadership Conference. At nationals, the students submitted a fifteen-page report outlining the year's project and gave a seven-minute presentation to a panel of judges for the preliminary round. The top twelve from the preliminary rounds then competed in the final round.