MCC students at FBLA-C fall conference

Four McCook Community College students in the collegiate chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA-C) and one of their advisors attended the Nebraska Fall Leadership Conference in Omaha on Oct. 26-27.

Dalaney Brunswick, Leeta Gorczyca, Hannah Huff, and Sarah Paben, members of FBLA-C, and advisor Alyssa Rippe began the trip with tours of MCL Construction and Werner Enterprises. Both businesses discussed their internship opportunities and gave the group a taste of the variety of business careers available in construction and transportation logistics.

Following the tours, the group, along with about 50 other FBLA-C members from across Nebraska, heard from Tim Vala, owner and founder of Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard. He talked about his unconventional route to create the 400-acre agribusiness operation. Students learned, then experienced, the attractions that draw thousands of guests to the property each year with activities ranging from haunted houses and corn mazes to the twenty-three restaurants and drink stands available.

The next day, the group attended the Nebraska FBLA-C Fall Leadership Conference at the University of Nebraska-Omaha campus. Most notably, members heard keynote speaker Ashton Honnor of Teammates Mentoring discuss “overcoming adversity to lead with both strength and respect for others.” The group also was also part of a young professionals panel and spent time networking with other chapters. The MCC chapter was also recognized for being the only chapter in the state that achieved a 100-percent membership retention from last year.