Bennington FBLA Takes First Place at Wildcat Business Competition

3–4 minutes

By Marisa Dawson, Courtesy Photos

A smiling individual takes a selfie while a group of students stands behind, holding certificates and a trophy, in front of a colorful Wayne State College backdrop.

Twenty-five Bennington High School students earned 17 awards, including six first-place finishes, as the chapter claimed the team championship at Wayne State College.

Bennington High School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter earned top team honors at the Wildcat Business Competition on October 14 at Wayne State College, bringing home 17 individual awards and six first-place finishes.

The competition drew 203 students representing 16 schools. Bennington sent 25 students to compete in business-related tests, with participants choosing from approximately six subject areas.

Business educator and FBLA sponsor Shelly Tvrdy said students benefited from a combination of preparation and prior competition experience. The chapter held a study session at the high school, and students also had access to online Quizlet study materials.

“We did a study session at the high school,” Tvrdy said. “We had multiple students place in both tests and we took home 6 first place finishes.”

Students competed in two tests, selecting from areas that aligned with their interests and business knowledge. For some, previous experience with similar competitions offered an advantage.

“Many of the 25 students who attended, half of them had competed in a similar test so they knew what to expect,” Tvrdy said.

Bennington students earned awards across all six competition categories, demonstrating their knowledge of economics, business communications, introductory business, computer science and technology, personal finance, and accounting.

The chapter’s six first-place finishes were among 17 total placements earned by Bennington students. The first-place finishers were Paxton Smith in economics, Brynn Moon in business communications, Fallon Zimmerman in introduction to business, Preston Sheets in personal finance, and Cole Johnson in accounting.

Bennington students earned the following placements across the competition’s six subject areas:

Economics

  • First place: Paxton Smith
  • Second place: Preston Sheets
  • Third place: Jaxson Jorgensen
  • Fifth place: Cole Johnson

Business Communications

  • First place: Brynn Moon
  • Third place: Aisha Mar Macossay
  • Fourth place: Kianna Pierre
  • Fifth place: Khloe Frack

Introduction to Business

  • First place: Fallon Zimmerman
  • Second place: Hannah Stacy
  • Fifth place: Adeline Wasmund

Computer Science and Technology

  • Second place: Delaney Green
  • Fourth place: Brynn Moon

Personal Finance

  • First place: Preston Sheets
  • Fourth place: Aisha Mar Macossay

Accounting

  • First place: Cole Johnson
  • Third place: Jaxson Jorgensen

Preparing students for future careers

FBLA provides students with opportunities to develop practical business knowledge and professional skills that can support their future education and careers.

Through competitive events, members apply what they learn in areas such as finance, marketing, management and information technology. The organization also emphasizes communication, public speaking, interviewing, leadership and professional networking.

Tvrdy said the organization offers students opportunities to build skills that extend beyond the classroom.

“[They] gain hands-on exposure to career pathways like finance, marketing, management, and IT,” she said, describing the career preparation FBLA provides.

Students can also strengthen their college and career prospects through competitive achievements, scholarships, internship networking and connections with other students and professionals.

Competition experiences allow students to demonstrate their knowledge while building confidence and gaining exposure to potential career paths. Students can also strengthen their resumes through recognized achievements and opportunities to connect with colleges, employers and other business leaders.

For Bennington FBLA, the Wildcat Business Competition marks one step in a larger competitive season.

The chapter’s next competition will take place at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in February. Members will then turn their attention to the Nebraska FBLA State Leadership Conference, scheduled for April 14-16 in Kearney.

At the state conference, each student will compete in five events, with the goal of placing among the top eight competitors in an event to earn a spot on stage. Tvrdy said the conference draws more than 2,000 students, making it a significant opportunity for members to demonstrate their skills against competitors from across Nebraska. Students who place in the top three at state can qualify for the national competition, which will be held in Ohio this year.

With a team championship and 17 individual awards already secured, Bennington FBLA will carry its success at Wayne State into the next stages of the school year’s competition schedule.

Five students standing in formal attire, holding certificates at a recognition event, with a banner in the background displaying 'Wayne State College' and the word 'Economics'.
A group of five women stand together holding certificates at an award ceremony, smiling and dressed in formal attire. The background features a banner with the letter 'W' and an image of a graduation ceremony.
A speaker presenting at the 2026 Wildcat Business Invitational Champion Cup event, with a scoreboard showing Bennington in 1st place, Arlington in 2nd, and Elkhorn Valley in 3rd. The background features an outdoor scene with trees and banners.
Two women pose for a selfie holding an award. The woman on the left has long blonde hair, while the woman on the right has wavy brown hair. Both are smiling in a busy indoor setting with people in the background.
A young man in a white shirt and blue tie stands holding a certificate in a classroom, with a university banner in the background.
Two young men stand on stage, each holding a certificate. The man on the left, Braxton Soll, is dressed in a black suit and tie, while the man on the right, Preston Sheets, wears a white shirt with a light blue tie and gray trousers. A crowd is visible in the background, along with banners for Wayne State College.
Two students proudly holding their certificates at the Wildcat Business Invitational 2023, standing in front of a Wayne State College banner.
A young woman with long dark hair, wearing glasses and a black blazer, smiles while holding a certificate that reads 'Wildcat Business Invitational 2026' awarded to her for fourth place in Personal Finance.
A young woman with long hair stands in a classroom setting, wearing a pink shirt and black pants, holding a towel with a sports team logo.
A young woman holding a certificate for the Wildcat Business Invitational 2026, smiling while standing in a brick-walled hallway. She is wearing a white vest over a black top and has long hair.

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