Rohith Palli, David Sekora Honored at FBLA National Leadership Conference

Both a Gatton Academy alumnus and incoming student were honored as national finalists at the 2010 Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference held July 14-17, 2010, in Nashville, Tenn.

Rohith Palli (Fayette, ’10) placed third in the Business Calculations category.

David Sekora (Simpson, ’12) placed fourth in the Business Math category.

Thomas Choate (Warren, ’10) and Stephen King (Carlisle, ’10) also represented the Academy at the National Conference.

In order to qualify for the conference, students competed in over 50 different business related events at the state level and the top winners were chosen to represent their states at the National Conference. With nearly 8,000 FBLA members from across the country in attendance, delegates faced off against some of nation’s most promising future leaders.

FBLA-PBL is the largest business career student organization in the world. The high school division has 215,000 members, while the postsecondary division reaches over 11,000 college students. Over 11,000 advisers round out the group. Exclusive membership and career recognition programs are designed for each division to provide additional personal and chapter development opportunities.

Stephanie Davis, a former Academy residential counselor and current WKU graduate student, serves as the chapter’s sponsor. Davis was pleased with the chapter’s commitment throughout the past year.

“Our students continue to show that hard work pays off,” Davis said. “Rohith’s placement at Nationals sets a new record for Academy FBLA achievement. We have had an excellent year and I’m continually proud of our Academy FBLA.”

Part of the Gatton Academy’s mission is to train students to think entrepreneurially while becoming the Commonwealth’s future leader. Davis believes those skills contribute their future roles in STEM fields. Palli explained that the two fields of study are extremely complimentary.

“The Academy emphasizes STEM fields, in which many students are among the best at what they do,” he said. “In order to promote real growth and change in a field, business acumen and entrepreneurship are necessary.”

Next year, Palli will study mathematics as well as the history and philosophy of science at the University of Pittsburgh. Palli plans to pursue a future career in medicine.

“I’m very excited for all the research and growth opportunities there,” Palli said.

The FBLA concept was developed in 1937 by Dr. Hamden L. Forkner of Columbia University. The first high school chapter was chartered in Johnson City, Tennessee on February 3, 1942. In 1958, the first PBL collegiate chapter was chartered in Iowa. The Professional Division, originally the Alumni Division, began in 1979. Joining FBLA-PBL in 1994 was the FBLA-Middle Level for students in grades 5-9.

For more information, contact Corey Alderdice at (270) 745-6565.

David Sekora, FBLA, National Conference, Rohith Palli, Stephanie Davis