NHS Students Attend National Competition

By Susan Coney

Newtown High School students Kaitlyn DiVanno, Becky Huot, and sisters Sophie and Eva Cerreta recently attended the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Competition held in Orlando, Fla. The students were accompanied by NHS teachers and advisors Melissa Robillard and Patricia Walsh.

FBLA is the premier student business association. Its mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs. FBLA conducts annual national competitions and workshops for young people. Students compete in several venues such as job interviews, public speaking, accounting, banking, business communications, computer applications, impromptu speaking, and economics, to name a few.

While attending the competition the students had the opportunity to meet students from all over the country and participate in workshops on character building, leadership, and teamwork skills. Sophie, Eva, and Becky all competed in the leadership competition, which was open to all attending the convention.

Kaitlyn, who placed first in the state for the Job Interview competition, represented the Nutmeg State at the national level. Kaitlyn said that while in Orlando she competed against approximately 40 other students in the Job Interview competition. She had to enter a resume and go through a  fictitious job interview as part of the competition.

Kaitlyn remarked that on the last day of their trip to Orlando was especially fun because they were able to attend Disney World. She stated that it was also her birthday and that she was happy to have the opportunity to celebrate it at Disney World.