Blackhawks FBLA land four state champions

CHENEY - The high school Future Business Leaders of America wrapped up its 2021 virtual State Business Leadership Conferences last weekend, with 16 of its 17 attending members placing in the top 10. As a team, members placed 22 times in the competition including four state championships.

According to a news release, sophomore Jason Hatfield won two state championship in Introduction to Information Technology and Cyber Security while qualifying for nationals in all four of his events. Other state champions were Ben Schreiber in Coding and Programming and Steven Johnson in Database Design.

Cheney also had three second place finishes: Joaquin Mendoza in Help Desk, Emme Murray in Database Design and the team of Skyer Hanson and Schreiber in Network Design. Seniors Brent Belsby and Hanson placed in all four of their events with Hanson qualifying for nationals in three events and Belsby in one event.

Adviser Adam Smith said the Cheney High School chapter also had a great conference outside competitive events with the chapter being recognized as a Silver Chapter for being one of the top 10 chapters in the state. Another chapter highlight was sophomore Nia Guest being voted in as the Northeast Region State Vice President. She becomes the fifth Cheney member ever to hold the position.

Finally Smith was recognized as the Washington State Outstanding Local Chapter Adviser. Nominated by Steven Johnson, Smith will represent Washington State at the FBLA National Leadership Conference.

Students who placed top four at state are eligible to compete at the virtual National Business Leadership Conference June 28 – July 3. Advancing to nationals as well as those student listed above are Will Emert (fourth, Network Design), Keenan Hahn (fourth, Management Information Systems), Garrett Heuett (fourth, Network Design), Hope Schneider (third, Management Information Systems) and Cameron Teresi (fourth, Management Information Systems).

Competing at state but not advancing were Tenaya Belsby, Mike Corneil, Nia Guest and Charlie Rajewski.