This past winter Western Wayne FBLA students participated in the Regional Leadership Conference for the state of Pennsylvania in a virtual format.  The students performed very well, and two Western Wayne students were elected as Region 22 FBLA Officers for the 2021-2022 school year.  Junior Luciano Azzato will serve as secretary for the region and Junior Morgan Coccodrilli will serve as president for the region next year.  At present, Lou serves as the region treasurer, and Morgan serves as the region secretary.

Lou said that he has been making the most of this unique year in education and FBLA.  He explained how he has had the opportunity to meet virtually with other region office holders.  Lou also enjoyed his experience in the virtual Regional Leadership Conference.  He discussed how he participated in the Business Calculations event and that he is preparing to participate in the State Leadership Conference for this same event during March.

As of right now, Lou is interested in the business field for a possible future career.  He really enjoys math in general.  He discussed what FBLA has taught him over the years.

“It’s taught me a lot of important skills that I have not learned in my regular classes,” Lou explained.  “I learned about interest and finance, and this has helped me to use my money the right way. Also, I have learned leadership skills such as responsibility, in taking care of others, and using my communication skills in a good positive way to get things done.” 

Lou aspires to attend a four-year university after graduation and is interested in Temple University, York University, and Penn State University.

Junior Morgan Coccodrilli is also glad to have the chance to participate in FBLA this year.  He explained how he helped to organize a meeting on a regional level by securing a speaker from the Woodloch Pines Resort to meet with the regional officers virtually.  Matt Kiesendahl of Woodloch spoke to the students.

“We learned how Woodloch has handled their business during the pandemic,” Morgan explained.  “We learned that it is important to cater to the people and to make sure your customers are your main priority. We also learned about the importance of caring for employees and adhering to CDC guidelines.”

In addition, Morgan explained how he really liked his experience in the Impromptu Speaking event at the Regional Leadership Conference.  He said that students in the event were given a prompt and ten minutes to prepare to speak on it.  The prompt was about how being in FBLA is like being a superhero.

“I discussed how being in FBLA is like being a part of The Avengers,” Morgan explained.  “You are a part of a team, and you help others.”

Morgan placed first in the Impromptu Speaking event.  He aspires to attend Penn State University and major in either engineering or premed.  He is also thinking about doing an ROTC program. 

“FBLA has taught me that a good leader understands when working with others not everyone will always agree.  You need to be able to find common ground to have success when working in a group,” Morgan said.

The following Western Wayne students placed in the FBLA Regional Leadership Conference.  In the Accounting II event: Lacey Fallon, first place; Alex Hineline, second place.

 In the Banking & Financial Systems event: Delaney Valinski, first place.  In the Business Calculations event: Luciano Azzato, third place.  In the Business Communication event: Hannah Elbert, fourth place.  In the Business Ethics event: Brett Schane and Caden Slifko, first place.  In the Business Ethics event: Adeladie Treibley, third place.

 In the Economics event, Haley Estus, fourth place.  In the Entrepreneurship event, Anya Rusnak and Sydney Hutchinson, fourth place.  In the Hospitality & Event Management Event:  Morgan Heenan, Sarah Collins, Alexandra Butler, first place.  In the Impromptu Speaking event:  Morgan Coccodrilli, first place.

 In the Introduction to Business event:  Lucas Putman, second place.  In the Introduction to Business Presentation event:  Alaina Maiocco and Ella Pavolvich, first place.  In the Introduction to Business Procedures event:  Brenna McGlone, second place; and Mackenzie Kennedy, fourth place.

 In the Introduction to Event Planning event:  Eleanor Black, fifth place.  In the Introduction to FBLA event:  Emily Romanowski, first place; Rhayni Carroll, second place; Taylor Maiocco, fourth place.  In the Introduction to Financial Math event:   Allie Pauler, third place; Weston Nugent, fifth place.  In the Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure event:  Skylar Long, first place; Alex Chapman, second place; Jenna Kwiatkowski, third place.

 In the Introduction to Public Speaking event:  Adrian Agnello, second place.  In the Management Decision Making event:  Rachel Tuman, first place.  In the Marketing event:  Aly McCarthy and Emilie McAllister, second place.  In the Parliamentary Procedure event:  Leonard Maiocco, Kaeli Romanowski, Lena Piccolino, Gabby Tetreault, and Rachel Hoch, first place. In the Personal Finance event: Thomas Gogolski, fifth place.

 In the Public Speaking event:  Kelton Slifko, second place; Lily Visceglia, third place.  In the Sports & Entertainment Management event:  Jake Kopcza, Alex Iovacchini, and Ashton Fitzsimmons, third place; and Caleb Hoch and Matthew Henneforth, fourth place.  In the Word Processing event:  Laynee Nugent, second place.

 In the Public Service Announcement event:  Julie Bryan, Cyrah Biehler, and Dustin Ferraro, all are Top 10 State Qualifiers.

Western Wayne Chorus students attended the virtual PMEA District 9 Chorus Festival. 

Rebecca Boots, Rhonda Fenkner, Bridgette Flannery, and Joanna Regalbuto had a successful and fun musical experience.

Senior Rhonda Fenkner and junior Joanna Regalbuto placed in their auditions and are now eligible to audition for the PMEA All State Chorus Festival which will also take place virtually in March.

            Rhonda and Joanna explained how even though their experience with district chorus was very different this year that it was also extremely enjoyable and rewarding.

            The students sent in their auditions virtually. Then for the festival they were able to practice with students from other districts and a guest conductor on Zoom.  The students worked to record their songs and editors compiled the songs together into finished pieces.

            “I really liked how one of our instructors did improv vocal exercises with us,” Joanna explained.  “He would have us hit a sour note and then fix it.”

            Rhonda explained after having done music festivals for years in-person that this year’s festival still had many of the great qualities that ones in the past have had for her as a musician.

            “I learned that it’s possible online to have a music festival experience,” Rhonda, who will attend Marywood University next year and study music therapy, explained.  “People were talking in the chat box and practicing together on the call.  All of us had a really good time.  We were all boosting each other’s confidence throughout the process.  It was very challenging and rewarding to sing out loud in front of about 90 of my peers on a Zoom call.”

            Rhonda and Joanna look forward to auditioning for the PMEA All-State Chorus Festival which will also take place virtually in March.  From left:  Joanna Regalbuto and Rhonda Fenkner.

            Western Wayne FCCLA students wrote letters to residents at the Julia Ribaudo Extended Care Center for Valentine’s Day.  The students were paired with a resident earlier this school year, and, for their first correspondence, the club decided to send their letter with mugs and sweet treats for their new pen pals.

            FCCLA Vice President Amelia Bosshard explained how she introduced herself in the letter and talked about how much she loves to read since her new pen pal also enjoys this activity.

            “I like knowing that they will get a smile from what we have sent,” Amelia explained.  

            FCCLA President Caitlyn Burdick also tried to make a personal connection with her resident through her letter.

            “My pen pal is a woman who likes music, so I told her about how I used to play ‘Sweet Caroline’ in the Western Wayne Marching Band,” Caitlyn explained.

            Both Amelia and Caitlyn plan to work with children in their future careers.  Amelia aspires to be an elementary school teacher.

            “A lot of what we do in the club is helping others, and I think in education I will be teaching kids compassion and teamwork,” Amelia explained.

            Caitlyn will study early childhood education and psychology after graduation.

            “As president of the club, I have worked to plan many events.  This will relate to working in a classroom because I will have to plan lessons, activities, and projects.”

            FCCLA plans to send more correspondence to the nursing home residents as the year continues.

FCCLA has coordinated with the Wayne and Pike County Victim’s Intervention Program to make it known that February is “Dating Violence Prevention Month.”  Students have placed bright orange flyers and ribbons in the hallway with flyers and important information for anyone who may be seeking help or experiencing an abusive relationship. Students have the opportunity to take an awareness quiz for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

FCCLA Director of Fundraising Paige Lee, sophomore, explained that her time learning about and promoting dating violence prevention has been a rewarding experience.

“I hope that students at our school realize that this issue should be taken seriously,” Paige, who also participates in indoor track and softball, said.  “I want them to know how important it is to contact someone for help if it is needed.”

FCCLA President Caitlyn Burdick, senior, agrees.

“I hope that my classmates realize that they can get out of a bad situation. There is always someone there to help them,” Caitlyn explained.

Did you know that one out of three high school students across the country experience an abusive relationship before they graduate? If you need help, reach out to an Advocate today! Call 570-253-4401 or text 570-798 -4VIP (4847).  Chat : vipempowers.or/chat