High School's Team of Business Leaders an Emerging State Powerhouse

It likely won’t be long before a graduate of Menomonee Falls High School graces the cover of Forbes Magazine. That’s because the school is steadily becoming a haven for emerging leaders of business.

Every year since 2002, the Waukesha West Academic Decathlon team has advanced to nationals and solidified its position as a statewide powerhouse. However, MFHS students in the Future Business Leaders of America program are building their own statewide notoriety.

Earlier this month, the FBLA team took home top honors in the regional competition for the fourth year in a row, and 43 students qualified for state. Last year, the team missed a state crown by one point, but sent 10 students to the national competition in Orlando. Nine of the 10 students that went to nationals finished in the top ten, which was the team's best finish ever.

This year, the team is eyeing a first-place finish at the state competition, which will be held in LaCrosse April 1-3. The team also hopes to send another strong contingent of students to the national competition in San Antonio.

“The students work really hard. They practice, prepare, perform very well,” said club advisor Sara Burling. “This year, the goal is to win state.”

FBLA has been a program at MFHS for years, but membership and success has really keyed up over the past 11 years, Burling said. Currently, the MFHS team has well over 190 members, and is the largest FBLA chapter in the state.

“There are no stereotypical FBLA members here,” Burling said.

The team is so large members compete for the limited slots to, well, compete.

Duncan McKennie, Cole Morris, and Tyler Johnson are seniors at MFHS, and they are in a presentation group gunning for a state and national title. FBLA competitions run the gambit of tests, presentations, and production related to real-world experience. This trio of students is taking their speech on the dangers of texting while driving to state.

The team went to state last year, but are hoping for a better finish come April.

“We’re looking to redeem ourselves this year,” Morris said.

The group is confident that they’ll get their redemption.

“If we keep practicing it will get more natural, we already aren’t using note cards because we are just natural speakers. We just have to trust ourselves,” said Johnson, who is also president of Falls FBLA.

For Johnson, the prospect of earning a state title and competing in nationals is about more than just bragging rights and a resume item. It’s about the team, and the future generations of FBLA members at MFHS.

“As the president, it would be great to represent a bunch of really hard-working people back in Menomonee Falls at nationals in San Antonio,” Johnson said. “We want to encourage the younger kids to reach the same goals.”

One would think the costs are high to send so many kids across the state and San Antonio. However, like a business-oriented bunch, they’ve augmented their fees by running the Trading Post outside the cafeteria for the past four years. The Trading Post is a place for students to purchase supplies, candy, soda and other odds and ends.

The Trading Post is a non-profit business, and FBLA students handle all facets of its operations. The students have been building a good business as well. Last year, it cost 10 students just $100 to travel down to Orlando for nationals.

“The kids really enjoy it, and it gives us a chance to interact with them outside of the classroom,” Burling said.

It's also a great way to recruit new members during the rush times.