KMS students win big at FBLA conference


Kaiserslautern Middle School students recently returned from the 2011 Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Europe Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference, held at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, wearing smiles and carrying awards.

KMS students were the dominant middle school in awards. The 22 students walked away with 18 awards in business and community ventures. In total, 220 middle and high school students throughout Europe attended the conference and 57 middle school students from six campuses competed in the more than 50 contests conducted, ranging from accounting to public speaking.

Here is a list of the KMS winners:  Nicholas Tremaglio, first place, middle school business English; Dakota Galley, second place, middle school business English; Tristan Walker, first place, middle school business math; Jason Lomsdalen, second place, middle school business math; Tyler Bernard, first place, middle school business ethics; Dakota Galley, first place, middle school business ethics; Dakota Galley, Tyler Bernard, Cyera Sanchez and Ana Walker, first place, middle school community service project;  Reshan Fudul, Tierra Penn, Meghan Ries and McKenna Roden, third place, middle school community service project; Ana Walker, third place, middle school FBLA creed; Natalia McFadden, second place, middle school public speaking; Tristan Walker, second place, middle school spelling; and Latoni Atuhaamago, third place, middle school spelling. The KMS adviser was Iris Abbott, business enterprise teacher.

Across the U.S., more than 250,000 students, educators and professionals are members of FBLA, assisting students to prepare for a business career. Jim Straka, a para-educator at the school, served as the conference’s keynote speaker. A former Disney marketing manager, Mr. Straka spoke to the students using the Disney concept of “DREAM:” Dedication, Responsibility, Education, Attitude and Motivation. He also spoke to them about the use of technology in business. 

(Courtesy of Kaiserslautern Middle School)