More than 9,380 of America’s best and brightest high school students traveled to the Peach State to CONNECT with top future business leaders and showcase their talents as they competed for the opportunity to win more than $179,000 in cash awards. The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference was held from June 29 to July 2 in Atlanta. Participants from across the United States and abroad attended this exciting conference to enhance their business skills, expand their networks, and participate in more than 65 business and business-related competitive events.

Bothell residents Raveena Nair and Aleksandra Swiatek, from Skyview Junior High/Bothell High School FBLA, received national recognition at the FBLA Awards of Excellence Program on July 2. Nair and Swiatek competed in Website Design and brought home Seventh place. The students created a website for a fictional gluten-free restaurant and bakery, and presented the website to a panel of judges.

“Raveena and Aleksandra spent endless hours designing their website and perfecting their presentation; I’m so happy to see them rewarded for their hard work,” said BHS FBLA Co-Advisor Lori Ley.

The award was part of a comprehensive national competitive events program sponsored by FBLA-PBL 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. In addition to competitions, students immersed themselves in interactive workshops, visited an information-packed exhibit hall, and heard from motivational speakers on a broad range of business topics.