Nebraska PBL Dominates National Competition

More than 12,000 participants from across the country convened online for the FBLA-PBL 2021 National Leadership Conference (NLC). The event, which connected middle school, high school, and collegiate level students through competitive events, leadership sessions, and networking, provided students with the collective opportunity to win more than $110,000 in cash awards. 

The award is part of the FBLA-PBL National Awards Program, better known as competitive events, that recognizes and rewards excellence in a broad range of business and career-related areas. For many students, the competitive events are the capstone activity of their academic careers.

This year’s NLC featured 60 events at the collegiate level. Events were modified to accommodate the online experience. FBLA-PBL has forged partnerships with industry leaders to underwrite competitive events and scholarships for students achieving national ranking.

Nearly 70 Nebraska PBL members were among the competitors in attendance at the virtual National Leadership Conference.  Nebraska PBL members captured seven first place wins and the state chapter brought home 64 Top Ten finishes. As a state, Nebraska finished first among all of the competing states. 

Seven First Place Event Winners

Out of the 64 national awards won by its members and chapters, Nebraska PBL had seven first place honors. 

Logan Dye (Wylie, TX) – York College – Client Service

Tommy Ganos (Gering), Andrew Kurtenbach (Rapid City, SD), & Siddhant Shelke (Pune, India) – Chadron State College – Global Analysis & Decision Making

Kitra Cody (Cody) & Moriah Toledo (Fruitland, NM) – York College – Human Resource Management

Ellie Anderson (Leawood, KS) & Ellie Floral (Bellevue) – University of Nebraska Lincoln – Management Analysis & Decision Making

Joran Teijema (Schagerbrug, The Netherland) – Nebraska Wesleyan University – Management Concepts

Jessica Chen (Lincoln) – University of Nebraska Lincoln – Sales Presentation

Sydney Atkinson (Butte), Joseph Hiatt (Spencer), & Megan Wallman (Syracuse) – University of Nebraska at Kearney – Small Business Management Plan

Other Top Ten Finishes

The following list includes the winners, city/state (if available), the college/university, and the event:

Second Place Winners

Kitra Cody (Cody) & Josh Santiago (Norfolk) – York College – Accounting Analysis & Decision Making

Jon Spradlin (North Platte) – University of Nebraska at Kearney – Accounting for Professionals

Austin Guhde-Egger (Peru) – Peru State College – Computer Concepts

Tommy Ganos (Gering) – Chadron State College – Financial Analysis & Decision Making

Diego Korol (Santiago, Chile) & Josh Santiago (Norfolk) – York College – Forensic Accounting

Noah Wynn (Auburn) – Peru State College – Future Business Executive

Abbie Gardner (Chadron) – Wayne State College – Hospitality Management

Jessica Chen (Lincoln) – University of Nebraska Lincoln – Marketing Concepts

Andrew Kurtenbach (Rapid City, SD) – Chadron State College – Sports Management & Marketing

Third Place Winners

Kenzie Bertolas (Anoka, MN) – Midland University – Accounting for Professionals

Morgan Anderson (Omaha) & Jenny Beans (Kearney) – University of Nebraska at Kearney – Business Decision Making

Kelsi Leininger (Shenandoah, IA) – Peru State College – Business Ethics

Abbie Gardner (Chadron) – Wayne State College – Business Law

Morgan Anderson (Omaha) & Jenny Beans (Kearney) – University of Nebraska at Kearney – Forensic Accounting

Justin Kenney (Milford) – Wayne State College – Insurance Concepts

Jennifer Campos (Alliance), Siddhant Shelkhe (Pune, India), & Phillip Soto (Scottsbluff)– Chadron State College – Integrated Marketing Campaign

Seth Varner (Wahoo) – University of Nebraska at Omaha – Organizational Behavior & Leadership

Autumn Miller (McCook) – McCook Community College – Social Media Challenge

Diego Korol (Santiago, Chile) & Felipe Venegas (Santiago, Chile) – York College – Small Business Management Plan

Fourth Place Winners

Adrianna Fajardo (Griffin, GA) & Ella Montoya (Hampton) – York College – Accounting Analysis & Decision Making 

Ella Montoya (Hampton) & Isaac Barnes (Florissant, MO) – York College – Community Service Project

Deanne Crocker (McCook) & Kyle Kinne (McCook) – McCook Community College – Digital Media

Ellie Foral (Bellevue) – University of Nebraska Lincoln – Microeconomics

Claire Schweikert (Papillion) – University of Nebraska at Omaha – Networking Concepts

Claire Schweikert (Papillion) – University of Nebraska at Omaha – Programming Concepts

Aubree Noble (Chadron) – Chadron State College – Strategic Analysis & Decision Making

Fifth Place Winners

Timberly Carr (Henderson) – York College – Business Communication 

Autumn Miller (McCook) – McCook Community College – Business Presentation

Jon Spradlin (North Platte) – University of Nebraska at Kearney – Cost Accounting

Sunnie Stephens (Goodland, KS) – McCook Community College – Desktop Publishing

Seth Varner (Wahoo) – University of Nebraska at Omaha – Entrepreneurship Concepts

Moriah Toledo (Fruitland, NM) – York College – Global Analysis & Decision Making

Nikki Holthaus (Elkhorn) – University of Nebraska Lincoln – Impromptu Speaking

Noah Kreifels (Auburn) – Peru State College – Marketing Concepts

Sixth Place Winners

Chris Martens (Albert Lea, MN) – York College – Business Ethics 

Caden Morris (Savannah, MO) – York College – Client Service

Kayla Flanigan (Omaha) – Midland University – Contemporary Sports Issues

Deanne Crocker (McCook) & Kyle Kinne (McCook) – McCook Community College – Desktop Publishing

Kimberly Frey (Tilden) – University of Nebraska Lincoln – Financial Concepts

Nikki Holthaus (Elkhorn) – University of Nebraska Lincoln – Hospitality Management

Isaac Barnes (Florissant, MO) & Victoria Miller (Alamosa, CO) – York College – Integrated Marketing Campaign

Kelsi Leininger (Shenandoah, IA) – Peru State College – Job Interview

Joseph Hiatt (Spencer) – University of Nebraska at Kearney – Justice Administration

Joran Teijema (Schagerbrug, The Netherland) – Nebraska Wesleyan University – Personal Finance

Aubree Noble (Chadron) – Chadron State College – Retail Management

Seventh Place Winners

Timberly Carr (Henderson) & Allison Myers (Kansas City, MO) – York College – Business Presentation 

Sydney Atkinson (Butte) – University of Nebraska at Kearney – Management Concepts

Ellie Anderson (Leawood, KS) – University of Nebraska Lincoln – Personal Finance

Eighth Place Winners

Roberto Saenz (Mission, TX) – Midland University – Accounting Principles

Tyler Harms (Falls City) – Peru State College – Marketing Analysis & Decision Making

Ninth Place Winners

Kathryn Phillips (Scottsbluff) – Nebraska Wesleyan University – Accounting Principles

Kayla Flanigan (Omaha) – Midland University – Information Management

Allison Myers (Kansas City, MO) & Moriah Toledo (Fruitland, NM) – York College – Local Chapter Annual Business Report

Tenth Place Winners

Sunnie Stephens (Goodland, KS) – McCook Community College – Accounting Principles

Adrianna Fajardo (Griffin, GA) – York College – Cost Accounting

Noah Wynn (Auburn) – Peru State College – Financial Concepts

Dawn Castle (Imperial) – Future Business Executive

Who’s Who in PBL

Diego Korol (Santiago, Chile) – York College – Who’s Who in PBL

Other Recognitions 

Jeanette Milius (Ashland), adviser for Nebraska Wesleyan University, represented Nebraska as their Adviser of the Year. 

The York College and McCook Community College chapters were recognized with the Gold Seal Chapters of Merit. These awards recognize outstanding chapters that have actively participated in projects and programs identified with the goals of FBLA-PBL. 

In addition, state adviser, Jennifer Claus (Ashland), assisted with the competitive events throughout the conference as part of the national awards program committee. She is in her first term on the committee. Claus has served as a state adviser for Nebraska PBL for 5 years.