Almost 1,500 high school students are spending the morning at Tucker Coliseum on the Arkansas Tech campus for the District V Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Fall Leadership Conference.

The FBLA is a national vocational student organization for students in high schools and middle schools who are interested in business or business education careers.  Learn more about FBLA.

Dr. Robert C. Brown, Tech president, welcomed the students to the Arkansas Tech campus and reminded the students about the importance of organizations such as FBLA.

During the conference, Peggy Wakefield, state adviser for the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education, also spoke to the students in attendance.

Dr. Linda Bean, associate professor of business, helped coordinate the conference and says it’s run by the FBLA officers.  She adds, “This conference gives the students the chance to develop their leadership skills by leading the entire conference.”

As part of the conference, each chapter submitted a possible cover design for the spring competition program.  Bean says Arkansas Tech students are serving as the judges to determine the best cover.  She adds, “This will give several of our business students experience working with FBLA chapters before they graduate.”