Students from Southeast Missouri State University’s Department of Management earned 13 medals across multiple competitive events at the Missouri Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Collegiate State Leadership Conference at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph.
Five SEMO students competed against participants from 11 colleges and universities across the state, earning top honors in management, selling and accounting, among other categories.
The group secured two first-place finishes, including Cianna Clowdus in Foundations of Management and Aden McFarland in Foundations of Selling. Students also earned two second-place finishes in Foundations of Accounting and the Management Case Competition team event.
“These students demonstrated strong preparation and the ability to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world business scenarios,” said Dr. Dana Schwieger, professor of management and advisor for Collegiate FBLA. “Their success reflects both their individual commitment and the strength of our program.”
In addition to Clowdus and McFarland, student competitors included Logan Conrey, Ian Nixon and Kyleigh White, who each placed in multiple events.
McFarland earned first place in Foundations of Selling, fifth in Foundations of Hospitality Management and sixth in Business Law. Clowdus earned first place in Foundations of Management, second place in both Foundations of Accounting and fourth in Foundations of Communications. Conrey was part of the second-place Management Case Competition team, placed fourth in Foundations of Entrepreneurship and fifth in Job Interview. Nixon earned second in Foundations of Marketing and fourth-place finishes in both Business Ethics and Sports Management and Marketing. White, also a member of the second-place Management Case Competition team, placed fourth in Foundations of Management.
Beyond competition, students participated in professional development sessions and networking opportunities with industry leaders. Conference speakers included entrepreneur Ted Sweeney, team president of the St. Joseph Goats arena football franchise, and Kristen Neeley, director of career development at Missouri Western State University, who presented on interviewing techniques.
Students also heard from keynote speaker Will Stuck, who shared insights on storytelling as a tool for effective communication.
Through organizations like FBLA, SEMO students gain opportunities to strengthen their skills, build professional connections and test their knowledge in competitive environments.
At SEMO, experiences like these help students connect classroom learning with real-world application, preparing them to lead in business and their communities. Build your career in business a semo.edu/business-computing.