Do you have an interest in business? Are you a leader? Do you want to prepare, develop, and build on these skills? Are you looking to make important connections for the future but aren’t sure where to start? I have some amazing news for you… Future Business Leaders of America is coming back to Knoch!
FBLA is an organization for high school students that focuses on preparing students for business and business-related careers. In 2015, the last advisor at Knoch stepped down, and no one stepped back up to fill the role… until now.
“Honestly, I really wanted to start DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), which is very similar to FBLA. I was really interested in DECA because, as I kept looking at resumes that got students huge college scholarships, DECA was always on them,” said FBLA president Savannah Hoculock. “I went to Mr. Shoop and spoke about it, and he told me that we actually had FBLA at Knoch, which was really similar, but no one has been the advisor for it in nearly a decade. I started asking around with my teachers, trying to find an advisor. I had a teacher who really liked the idea of it and applied, but little did we know, a teacher new to Knoch had also applied and got the position as FBLA advisor! Over the summer, I attended PFEW (read about it here!), where my team and I won 3/5 categories. A bunch of people there were either in DECA or FBLA, which only made me want to start it more, so I was very happy when I heard back from Mr. Shoop that Mr. Milne had been approved as FBLA advisor.”
Mr. Milne is the new middle school computer science teacher.
“This is my first year at Knoch, and as I was getting settled into my role, I learned there was an opportunity to bring FBLA back. I couldn’t say no,” said Mr. Milne. “For years, I’ve worked with students in non-academic settings to help them grow as leaders and problem-solvers, and being able to continue that here at Knoch—while also connecting it to real-world business and career skills—is exactly why I became a teacher.”
This is a very exciting opportunity for all students at Knoch, not just those interested in business, to gain valuable knowledge and skills for their future careers.
“FBLA is really about opportunity—discovering what interests you, gaining confidence, and building skills that last a lifetime,” said Mr. Milne. “Whether you see yourself in business or not, there’s something in FBLA that can help you grow as a person and a leader.”
You might be wondering: what exactly does FBLA do?
“We plan on attending different regional competitions and showcasing exactly what we have spent our time on. Our club is still very new, so the next couple of meetings will be more so figuring out what we want to do and what works for every member,” said Hoculock. “I think a good goal for us to hold is to have one of our members qualify for the statewide competition! We currently plan to meet every other Thursday in the morning right away, in Mr. Milne’s room, which is in the middle school.”
Although they are only just starting up meetings, Hoculock, Mr. Milne, and the rest of the club are looking forward to welcoming new, friendly faces into FBLA!
“I’m really excited to start doing competitions! FBLA has a lot of great opportunities/challenges that you can take on by yourself or with a team. There really is something for everybody, even if you aren’t sure if you will fit in!” said Hoculock.
FBLA is unlike any other opportunity here at Knoch, with the core of it centered around business.
“Right now, we’re in an exciting ‘building’ phase, exploring all that FBLA has to offer. Starting in December, we’ll begin preparing for competitions that cover topics from leadership and communication to marketing, finance, and even coding,” said Mr. Milne. “Students can test their knowledge, present projects, or create business plans—whatever matches their interests. As we grow, we also hope to attend leadership conferences and networking events to connect with other motivated students from across the state.”
This club isn’t just about business; it’s about networking and building relationships with people that you probably wouldn’t meet anywhere else.
“You get out of FBLA exactly what you put into it. If you are looking for a low-stress club you can dedicate less than two hours a week to, maybe think of doing an FBLA event solo. There are many different opportunities, including law, ethics, finance, marketing, business, entertainment, and many more,” said Hoculock. “We meet in the mornings because we know people can be very busy directly after school, so we can be very flexible. You don’t even really have to attend every single meeting!”
Whether this club is something that interests you or not, all students are eligible to obtain useful life skills!
“Being hesitant is actually a good thing—it means you’re thinking carefully about your time and priorities. Joining a club is a personal decision, and no one should feel pressured,” said Mr. Milne. “But I’d encourage them to see FBLA as a welcoming space to meet new people, learn practical skills, and challenge themselves in a low-stakes environment. The things we practice here—like working on a team or solving real-world problems—are the same skills that can make a real difference later in life. Developing these skills now is ultimately a lot safer than trying to learn them in the workplace when your paycheck hangs in the balance.”
Join FBLA to develop leadership, compete academically, and make life-long connections.
“I’m most excited to work with students who are genuinely interested in business, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Beyond that, FBLA gives us a great platform to develop essential soft skills—like communication, empathy, and teamwork—that will serve students far beyond high school, no matter what path they take,” said Mr. Milne.
FBLA hopes to see you at their next meeting on October 30th, before school. And in the wise words of Savannah Hoculock: “Please contact me or Mr. Milne about becoming a part of FBLA! We truly do have something for everybody and would love to have you join us!”
