As with most things in Northeastern PA, the weather always plays a factor especially during the winter months. Due to the weather forecast, FBLA Region 22 was unable to hold their annual Regional Leadership Conference in person. Despite this, the members of Carbondale Area’s FBLA received the outstanding news that forty-eight Chargers have qualified for the state competition this year. The 2024 State Leadership Conference will be held at the Hershey Lodge in April. Some members will be required to complete another test assessment while attending SLC 24. Other members will be required to present on a topic related to the category they tested in. Congratulations to all state qualifiers and good luck competing at the next level!
1st Place (Regional Champions):
Erika Hollis- Banking and Financial Systems
Taylor Corrigan- Introduction to Business Concepts
Zacharay Tarchak- Introduction to Business Procedures
Riley Brennan, Lyssa Durkin, and Ana Pauswinski- Introduction to Event Planning
Ella Casper- Introduction to Information Technology
Molly Kelly- Networking Infrastructure
Alexander Mackey, William Murphy, Mason Nepa, Olivia Lawler and Matthew Serkosky- Parliamentary Procedure
Adrienne Titley- Personal Finance
Bryanne Lucas- Securities and Investments
2nd Place
Ava Peregrin- Advertising
Ian Dzielak- Entrepreneurship
Kylie Kelly- Health Care Administration
Ciara Martin- Human Resource Management
Gianna Perry- Introduction to Business Concepts
Leila Maldonado- Introduction to Business Procedures
Ashleigh Arnese, Maureen Newcomb, and Madelena Zaccone- Introduction to Event Planning
John Gorel- Introduction to Marketing Concepts
Eliana Connolly- Organizational Leadership
Abby Wall- Public Policy and Advocacy
3rd Place:
Rylee Colonna and Angelica Prieto- Banking and Financial Systems
Scott Santos- Business Management
Abby Lynady- Help Desk
Aiden Mannis- Introduction to Information Technology
Emily Grover- Introduction to Marketing Concepts
Summer Young- Public Policy and Advocacy
4th Place:
Juliette Racht and Max Rosler- Banking and Financial Systems
Elvira Marrero- Help Desk
Caden Brennan, Jocelyn Brown and Cosklo- International Business
Abigail Carachilo- Introduction to Business Concepts
Nico Laguzzi- Public Policy and Advocacy
Stephanie Baker- Securities and Investments
Saniya Henderson- UX Design
5th Place:
Leila Esgro- Help Desk
Aurora Esgro- Introduction to Business Procedures
Evan Cerra- Introduction to Financial Math
Kaci Bannon- Organizational Leadership
“Last year, I was able to use my knowledge of parliamentary procedure gained by learning about the United States Congress and watching countless livestreams of C-SPAN to come back from a third place finish in my regionals competition and place #1 at the FBLA state competition in Intro to Parliamentary Procedures,” explained sophomore Mason Nepa. “This year, a group comprised of myself, William Murphy, Matthew Serkosky, Alexander Mackey, and Olivia Lawler practiced and studied to compete in our Parliamentary Procedure event where we placed first at our regional conference. I am very confident in my team’s ability to compete at the state conference, where we will be asked to present a case study simulation of a regular chapter meeting displaying the parliamentary skills we have learned about, and I am confident that we have what it takes to place at the next level.“
Mason Nepa
“Last year, was my first time participating in FBLA. I decided to take my test in Banking and Financial Systems where I placed 1st in the region, with my partner Emma Monahan,” noted senior Erika Hollis. “We then took our test for states where we placed in the top 15 in our category. Over the summer, I began working at The Dime Bank in Carbondale working as a teller. In my time at the bank, I have learned different rules and regulations. When it came time to decide which category to be in this year, I instantly knew that I wanted to do Banking and Financial Systems again. Before taking my test, I was very prepared, from not only working at the bank but also studying. I was very happy to find out that I placed 1st in the region again this year. I am very confident that I will do well when it comes time to taking my test for states in April.”
![](https://carbondalearea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Erika-Hollis-201x300.jpeg)
“I’ve been competing in FBLA for four years,” stated senior Molly Kelly. “I have placed first every year, including this year. My first year I competed in Introduction to Business Communications. My sophomore year I competed in Introduction to Computer Problem Solving where I placed 1st in the region as well as 1st in the state, qualifying me for nationals. Nationals that year was held in Chicago and it was by far my favorite school trip I’ve been on and an overall great experience. For the past two years I have competed in Networking Infrastructure. Last year I placed first in both the region and state, and qualified for nationals again which was held in Atlanta, Georgia. I recently placed first in the region and am looking forward to the state competition held in Hershey. As president of the club, I am proud of all of the accomplishments we have made and am excited to see how our hard work pays off at states.”
![](https://carbondalearea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/OAK_8087-Kelly-Molly-200x300.jpg)
![](https://carbondalearea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/FBLA-State-Qualifiers.jpg)
The Carbondale Area School District wishes these students the best of luck in the state competition! #CAProud