MoWest hosts FBLA State Leadership Conference, qualifies 6 students for nationals

March 20, 2026-Missouri Western State University's Collegiate FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) hosted the State Leadership Conference earlier this month. More than 100 students from across the state came to campus to compete.

Competitive events included Accounting, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Public Speaking, Sports Management & Marketing, Impromptu Speaking, Marketing, Business Presentations, Business Law, Digital Design & Communication, and Supply Chain Management.

Eight students from MoWest's Craig School of Business tested their skills and abilities, earning a total of six top-4 finishes to advance to the National Leadership Conference in Las Vegas in June:

• Aden Monzon, senior accounting major from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • 1st place in State of the Chapter Presentation (team with Curtis)
  • 2nd place in Sports Management & Marketing
• Kylie Curtis, senior business education major from Nevada, Missouri
  • 1st place in State of the Chapter Presentation (team with Monzon)
  • 6th place in Marketing
• Wyatt Fisher, junior management major with a concentration in entrepreneurship from Faucett, Missouri
  • 1st Place in Business Ethics (team with Roe)
  • 3rd place in Business Law
• Ashton Roe, junior management major with a concentration in entrepreneurship from Gower, Missouri
  • 1st Place in Business Ethics (team with Fisher)
  • 2nd place in Impromptu Speaking
• Valencia Chapman, junior management major from Kansas City, Missouri
  • 3rd place in Supply Chain Management
  • 4th place in Entrepreneurship
  • 3rd place in Digital Design and Communication (team with Nguyen)
• Quynh Nguyen, freshman marketing major from Des Moines, Iowa
  • 3rd place in Digital Design and Communication (team with Chapman)
• James Phalen, sophomore accounting and finance major from St. Joseph
  • 5th place in Finance
• Nicholas Klepees, freshman accounting major from St. Joseph
  • 5th place in Public Speaking

Curtis was re-elected as a Missouri state officer and is serving as president. Monzon was also re-elected as a Missouri state officer and is the vice president of FBLA Relations. They both were responsible for planning the conference on campus.

Alumnus Seth Hogue '23 participated in the networking event at Ricky Dean's and also served as a judge for the competitive events.

MoWest's FBLA, a student organization focusing on leadership, networking, resume building, and service, is actively recruiting all majors. The next membership meeting is Tuesday, April 14. For more details, contact Pam Klaus, advisor, [email protected].

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. MoWest is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.