CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — After years without any active chapters, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) has officially returned to Charles County Public Schools, and students are already celebrating success. Students at La Plata High School and Robert D. Stethem Educational Center — competed in the Southwestern Region Leadership Conference on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, and some are heading to states.
The newly reestablished FBLA chapter at La Plata High School — which had not had an active chapter since the 1990s — and the newly created chapter at Robert D. Stethem Educational Center took the stage at the Southwestern Region Leadership Conference.
Held at Laurel High School, the regional conference brought together students from across Charles and Prince George’s counties for a full day of competition. By the end of the event, five students from Charles County had earned spots at the upcoming State Leadership Conference in Ocean City this March.
Congratulations to these Placing Students:
- Deashia Freeman — 2nd place, Job Interview (Stethem)
- Matthew Smith — 3rd place, Graphic Design (Stethem)
- Mohsen Husain and Corry Dang — 4th place, International Business (La Plata)
- Gaven Wu — 4th place, Real Estate (La Plata)
The effort to bring FBLA back has been led by advisers Whitney Blakeley at Stethem and Olivia Sisson at La Plata. Both serve as career coaches and recognized the need for a student organization that builds leadership, business knowledge and employability skills. Unlike many career and technical organizations, FBLA does not require students to be enrolled in a CTE program, giving more students access to competitive and career-focused opportunities.
Looking Ahead: State And National Opportunities
Students attending the State Leadership Conference in Ocean City can expect a three-day event centered on leadership development, competition and networking. The conference includes workshops and keynotes from business professionals and college partners, more than 70 competitive event categories, and opportunities to connect with over 1,000 FBLA members from across Maryland. General sessions, social activities and recognition ceremonies round out the experience. The event will take place March 11–13, 2026. A full schedule, including competitive event times, will be released on March 1.
As students prepare for the state conference, both chapters are also looking ahead to potential advancement at the national level. Top performers at the State Leadership Conference will have the opportunity to qualify for the National Leadership Conference in June in San Antonio, Texas. In addition, students participating in select “straight-to-states” events may earn eligibility for state-level competition without regional placement.
To support travel and competition expenses, the chapters are seeking community support through business sponsorships and fundraising nights with partners such as Nothing Bundt Cakes and Sky Zone.
Local businesses interested in sponsoring students or contributing to travel costs may contact Whitney Blakeley at Robert D. Stethem Educational Center via email at wblakeley@ccboe.com.
About FBLA
Future Business Leaders of America is the largest business career and technical student organization in the world, serving more than 230,000 middle school, high school and collegiate members across the United States and beyond. While FBLA is a national organization, each state operates its own division to support local chapters and competitions.
Maryland FBLA aims to inspire and prepare students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.
Got a tip or photo? Text us at 888-871-NEWS (6397) or email news@thebaynet.com.
Join The BayNet Membership for exclusive perks and zero ads.
Don’t miss a story—sign up for our newsletter!
