HAHS FBLA

04/15/2026

Hazleton Area FBLA Shines at the State Leadership Conference

What an incredible showing for our chapter at this year’s State Leadership Conference in Hershey. With thousands of students from across Pennsylvania, long and demanding competition days, and incredibly fierce competition, our students rose to the challenge and delivered outstanding performances. We are extremely proud of their hard work, preparation, dedication, and professionalism throughout the entire conference experience.

National Qualifiers (Top 4 in Pennsylvania)

These students and teams have earned the opportunity to compete at the national level:

Parliamentary Procedure —Alexis Lutz, Lauren Lamanna, Sophia Andrae, Madison Matteo, Serena Novotney (1st in the State — State Champions)

Local Chapter Annual Business Report — Sophia Andrae, Lauren Lamanna, Alexis Lutz (2nd in the State)

Community Service Project — Mateo Feola, Malia Graziano, Alexis Staffin (4th in the State)

Future Business Leader — Mateo Feola (4th in the State)

Data Analysis — Marc Zellin (4th in the State)

Event Planning — Ruby Myers & Lauren Harmonosky (3rd in the State)

Introduction to Business Presentation — Mercede DeLorenzo, Katie Rodgers, Alanna Filler (4th in the State)

Digital Animation — Jonas Kozlek & Santino
DeLorenzo (1st in the State — State Champions)

A Record-Breaking Achievement
This year, our chapter qualified our largest number of students ever for the National Leadership Conference (16 students). This an incredible milestone that reflects the dedication, teamwork, and preparation of our entire program.

Top 10 State Finalists
We are equally proud of our students who placed among the best in Pennsylvania:

5th — Alexis Staffin (Future Business Educator)
5th — Chase Kaschak & Mariannyi Brache (Network Design)
6th — Brookelynn Keeler (Healthcare Administration)
6th — Emily Fancher (Career Portfolio)
7th — Kailyn MacCollum, Emme Zanolini, Sophia Moran (Digital Video Production)
8th — Riley Mastantuono (Introduction to Programming)
9th — Malia Graziano (Future Business Educator)
9th — Kaitlyn McAlarney (Business Communication)
10th — Mya Taveras (Technology Support & Services)

Special Recognitions
Congratulations to Dr. Allison Yourechko on being named Administrator of the Year.

Our chapter was also recognized as the 3rd Largest Chapter in Pennsylvania, with over 214 members.

Beyond Competition
All of our students rose to the occasion throughout the conference. While not all were competing, they supported one another, cheered on their peers, and fully engaged in the experience. Students attended a wide range of workshops and leadership sessions, including a Shark Tank innovation workshop featuring FBLA alumni connected to NBC’s Shark Tank.

They also participated in college and career fairs, visited career exploration booths, and attended sessions on personal finance, resume building, and hospitality careers.

Each evening, the awards ceremonies were held at the Giant Center in Hershey, where students networked with peers across the state and celebrated competitors who will be representing Pennsylvania at nationals.

It was truly an unforgettable experience, filled with growth, hard work, networking, and celebration of career-ready skills.

Next Stop: FBLA National Leadership Conference
San Antonio, Texas : end of June

We couldn’t be more proud of our students and everything they have accomplished.

A Special Thank You
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all of the advisors, business partners, and education staff who supported our students throughout this journey, including Mrs. Kozlek, Mrs. Chyko, Mr. Buehring, Mr. Arndt, Mr. Turri, and Mr. Kesselring, along with Mrs. Laura Barletta and Dr. Allison Yourechko.

These individuals played an essential role in supporting students by monitoring events, serving as judges, and celebrating alongside them as they succeeded.

04/15/2026

What an incredible night. Big update tomorrow

04/14/2026

https://vimeo.com/event/5665514

Please tune in tonight to watch Hazleton Area FBLA shine at the Awards Ceremony! Our students have already done an outstanding job, and we’re so proud of all their hard work and dedication.

Now let’s see if we bring home even more national qualifiers! 🌟

The program begins around 7 PM don’t miss it!

04/14/2026

https://vimeo.com/event/5664857

03/26/2026

📣 Business Department Shoutout:

Today we took 17 students from our Business Department to compete at the Husky Dog Pound at Zeigler College of Business on the campus of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, and what an incredible (and beautiful!) spring day it was!

Our students from Business Management/Principles and Web & Digital Design classes had the opportunity to pitch their innovative ideas while competing against hundreds of teams from 63+ schools across Pennsylvania. After weeks of hard work in our entrepreneurship unit, using tools like our 3D printer and hands-on materials, each team earned their spot by winning their in-class competitions.

Our teams pitched creative, real-world solutions including:
• Retrofitting cars into powerful electric vehicles
• Smart sweatbands that monitor hydration on the playing field
• Digitally enhanced press-on nails
• An entrepreneurial car detailing kit featuring a custom 3D-printed tool belt system

👏 A huge CONGRATS to Jonas, Mikey, and Santino, who placed in the Top 10 and earned $250 for their innovative detailing business concept! We are so proud of these Digital Design students and FBLA members!

🙏 A special THANK YOU to the Hazleton Area Partners in Education program for supporting this unit by providing 3D printing filament and poster board supplies, helping bring our students’ ideas to life. We also appreciate their support of our in-house Shark Tank competition, which gave students the opportunity to refine and showcase their pitches.

👏 Thank you to all of our Principles and Business teachers who welcomed our students, allowed them time to practice their presentations, and supported them throughout this journey. It truly takes a team!

But the experience didn’t stop there…

🎓 Students also:
• Attended sessions on majors offered at Bloomsburg
• Took a campus tour, including a dorm room
• Enjoyed an all-you-can-eat meal at Scranton Commons

We are so grateful to Dr. Force and Bloomsburg University for hosting such an inspiring event for young entrepreneurs and for the awesome swag bags!

👏 Shoutout to our own Mr. Michael Zalutko, who placed in the Top 5 in the collegiate competition. This is an incredible accomplishment and an inspiration to our students every day! We are still waiting to find out his final placement as he continues competing this evening.

From classroom concepts to real-world competition, our students truly experienced what it means to think like entrepreneurs.

🐾 Great job, Cougars… today you got to see what it’s like to be a Husky!

03/10/2026

Hazleton Area FBLA Featured on WBRE!

We are incredibly proud of our students in Future Business Leaders of America for being recognized by WBRE-TV in their “Here’s to You Kid” segment!

Our members created “Fidgets for the Future,” a community service initiative designed to help classmates stay focused and engaged in the classroom by providing helpful fidget tools. The project highlights the creativity, compassion, and leadership our students bring to solving real challenges in school.

Small tools can make a big difference in helping students stay engaged in learning, and we’re proud of the positive impact our FBLA members are making for their peers. 

Check out the full story here:

https://www.2822news.com/nepas-children-first/heres-to-you-kid/students-help-classmates-stay-engaged-with-fidgets-for-the-future/

Congratulations to our amazing students for representing Hazleton Area and FBLA with such heart and innovation!

HAZLE TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Some local students are stepping up to assist other students in need. Their focus is to help children who struggle to stay engaged in classroom activiti…

02/20/2026

Come support our amazing students!! Let’s go Cougars.

🚨GAME DAY!🚨
🆚: Wyoming Valley West Spartans
📆: Friday, February, 20
📺: Game Info https://team1-sports.login-ken.com/hs-basketball.php
🕥: Kick-off 7:00 PM.
📍 : High School Grils Basketball

04/10/2025

Hazleton FBLA Shines at 74th Annual State Leadership Conference

Hazleton Area FBLA recently sent 78 students and five dedicated advisors/chaperones to the 74th annual Pennsylvania FBLA State Leadership Conference for several exciting days filled with competition, workshops, networking, and career development opportunities. The event was rigorous and competitive, and we are incredibly proud to recognize our outstanding student achievements.

Top 10 Finishers:

10th Place:
• Public Policy & Advocacy: Mateo Feola
• Electronic Career Portfolio: Paige Greco

9th Place:
• Largest Local Chapter Membership Award
• Client Service: Maliah Graziano
• Broadcast Journalism Team: Emily Fancher and Sophia Moran
• UX Design: Kris Fadul

8th Place:
• Local Chapter Annual Business Report Team: Sophia Andrae, Laura Lamanna, and Alexis Lutz (Chapter Event)

6th Place:
• Public Service Announcement: Santino DeLorenzo
• Community Service Team: Mateo Feola, Lexi Staffin, Maliah Graziano (Chapter Event)

5th Place – (Tentative/Stand by National Qualifiers):
• Parliamentary Procedure Team: Sophia Andrae, Lauren Lamanna, Alexis Lutz, Serena Novotney, Madison Matteo

• Broadcast Journalism: Gregory Kupsho

• Graphic Design: Jonas Kozlek

National Qualifiers:

3rd Place:
• American Enterprise Project Team: Santino DeLorenzo, Taryn Leonard, Jonas Kozlek (Chapter Event)

• Future Business Educator: Lexi Staffin

Special Recognition:

We are thrilled to congratulate Mrs. Laura Barletta, who was honored as the 2025 PA FBLA Administrator of the Year. This well-deserved award celebrates her unwavering dedication, leadership, and tireless commitment to FBLA and the students of Hazleton Area.

Thank You to Our Advisors and Support Team:

A heartfelt thank you goes to our incredible advisors, judges, and chaperones who made this experience possible: Victoria Kozlek, Michelle Chyko, Ben Beuhring, Darrin Arndt, and Allison Yourechko. Your support and guidance continue to inspire and empower our students to achieve greatness.

Congratulations to all competitors on their achievements and making it to states.

We wish our national qualifiers the best of luck as they prepare to compete at the 2025 FBLA Middle & High School National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California, from June 29 to July 2.

03/22/2025

SLC Countdown: 15 Days 🙌
We are just 15 days away from boarding the bus to Hershey, PA for the annual FBLA State Leadership Conference.

Today’s tip: Comfortable business shoes matter.
The Hershey Lodge is one of the largest conference centers in Pennsylvania, which means students will be doing a lot of walking. While business attire is required, it’s important to choose shoes that are both professional and comfortable. Now is the perfect time to break them in to avoid sore feet.

Pro Tip: Pack plenty of Band-Aids in case of blisters and bring a pair of comfortable shoes for downtime and our trip to Chocolate World on the way home.

Let’s step into SLC with confidence and comfort.

02/15/2025

02/14/2025

Earlier this week, our club president Mateo, a proud member of the Junior City Council, took the initiative to reach out to the Hazleton City Council. Thanks to his efforts, a proclamation has been created declaring this week National FBLA Week in our city! We’re excited to celebrate and spread awareness about the importance of Future Business Leaders of America.