Future Business Leaders show winning ways in state competition—and in promoting FIU.

When members of the Future Business Leaders of America–Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) chapter at Florida International University (FIU) were making plans to attend their organization’s State Fall Leadership Conference, they decided to compete strongly and to learn from the event.

While the spring conference has the major competitions, this fall event, held November 19-21 at the Palm Beach County Hilton Hotel, also offered opportunities to excel.

Quy Van, Mauricio Rodrigues, Bruno Cevallos, Yanyn San Luis, Jose Nunez, vice president of competition Louis Castillo and Emmanuela Cassimir, state parliamentarian

The results were impressive. FIU’s Claudia Capdesuner, Gedma Estrada and Jose Nunez were members of the five-person District V Team that won the Battle of the Districts in the college portion of the competition.

In statewide Open Events competitions, six FIU students placed in the top slots.

FBLA-PBL Facts:
Claudia Capdesuner, First Place
Saul Perez, Second Place

Leadership:
Bruno Cevallos, Second Place

Hospitality Management:
Jose Nunez, Second Place,
Mauricio Rodrigues, Third Place

Grammar:
Louis Castillo, First Place

The FIU team also won the Foundation Volleyball Game, and participated in the March of Dimes Walk.

“Plus, the students benefited by participating in professional development workshops that focused around the organization’s crest: service, education and progress,” said Yanyn San Luis (BA ’10), who attended the conference. She serves as chapter advisor along with Jose Toscano (BA ’97).

Golden (Panther) Opportunity: FIU students promote business school programs.

The 13 FBLA-PBL members also decided to use the conference to promote FIU’s College of Business Administration.

“Since the 300 conference attendees included middle school, high school and college students, we had an FIU information table,” said Capdesuner, chapter reporter.

The conference provided an excellent opportunity for FIU students to spread the word about the university.

FIU students staffed the display, handing out literature and talking about the university’s undergraduate and graduate business programs.

“We play the role of FIU ambassadors at each conference we attend,” chapter president Cevallos said. “We were excited to talk to many high school seniors eager to join our chapter and to become proud Golden Panthers.”

Chapter president Bruno Cevallos and member Mauricio Rodrigues, behind the information table, with recruitment committee chair and historian Jose Nunez

San Luis called the students’ outreach effort “outstanding. By providing our ranking information as well as highlighting our top programs, students were swayed into applying and considering FIU as their university of choice.”