Crestwood FBLA Team Earns State Recognition for Achievements

The Crestwood Board of Education recently honored the achievements of its Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter during a ceremony at its meeting on January 8, 2024. The Crestwood FBLA team, comprising 181 students, is recognized for its impressive performance in regional and state competitions, showcasing the skills and dedication of its members.

Crestwood FBLA President Avery Pisano, a senior, expressed her pride in the team, calling the recognition an “honor and a privilege.” This year, Pisano spearheaded a community initiative titled “Housewarming for Heroes,” donating 50 baskets of essential household items to the Department of Veterans Affairs Wilkes-Barre Medical Center for homeless veterans. “We try our best to do a lot for the community and ourselves, to build our skills and better our community together,” she stated.

During the ceremony, Crestwood FBLA members provided a presentation detailing the chapter’s successes. Membership has surged by 111 students since 2021, making up approximately one-fifth of the total high school student body. This year, 128 students achieved top-10 placements at competitions, with 73 students qualifying for the Pennsylvania FBLA State Leadership Conference scheduled for April in Hershey. Crestwood’s FBLA program is currently ranked No. 2 statewide, according to Christy Laubach, the chapter’s faculty advisor and a business teacher at Crestwood High School.

Laubach expressed her aspirations for the chapter, stating, “Hoping to be No. 1 this year.” The Crestwood FBLA actively participates in various student-business activities, including the virtual Stock Market Game, business simulation challenges, and the Business Achievement Awards. In November, the officer team attended the Pennsylvania FBLA State Leadership workshop at the Kalahari Convention Center in the Poconos.

Crestwood FBLA Vice President Adison Huber highlighted the benefits of participation, noting, “I just think FBLA is a good way to network with other people from other school districts, gain leadership skills, and compete at a fun level.” Senior Julianna Dodge shared her experience of discovering her strengths within the organization. “I went to a bunch of workshops and I found that I really liked presenting,” she remarked, emphasizing the confidence she gained through her involvement.

The Crestwood FBLA chapter’s accolades are numerous. It has received the Gold Seal Merit and Gold Champion Chapter awards three times. Additionally, at the 2025 national FBLA competition in Anaheim, California, then-rising junior Nidhi Patel secured ninth place in the Introduction to Business Procedures competition.

Community service is a cornerstone of the Crestwood FBLA’s mission. This year, the chapter collaborated with local businesses and organizations to provide 132 students from Fairview and Rice elementary schools with backpacks and school supplies. They also raised $1,856.71 for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, created Veterans Day cards for local veterans, donated five truckloads of food to St. Paul’s Church, and collected toys for children during the holiday season.

Senior Kyra Bechtel, the chapter’s historian, expressed pride in the FBLA’s deep-rooted history within the community, noting that the chapter was founded in 1981. “FBLA has been a really big influence throughout Crestwood’s history,” Bechtel said. Laubach, who has been guiding the chapter for 26 years, credited her mentor at Hazleton Area High School, Joseph Gavio, for her commitment to business education. Laubach was honored as the Outstanding Advisor of the Year at the 2025 State Leadership Conference.

Members of the Crestwood school board took pride in the team’s accomplishments. Shawn Gallagher, a school board member, commented on the program’s relevance, stating, “The stuff you’re learning is real. This is stuff you’re going to use.” Fellow board member Nanci Romanyshyn added, “Whether you win an award or not, this community recognizes you.”

Pisano reflected on the opportunities that FBLA has opened for her future, saying, “FBLA seemed like something I would be able to carry with me for the rest of my life.” At the ceremony’s conclusion, the team received a citation from the Pennsylvania State House, issued by Rep. Alec Ryncavage (R-119), in recognition of their contributions. The citation, co-signed by House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-191), commended the chapter members for exemplifying the organization’s mission.

The week of February 8 to February 14 has been designated National FBLA Week by the state House, celebrating the contributions of FBLA chapters across the nation. Crestwood senior Thomas Thompson, the chapter parliamentarian, expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating, “I felt very honored today to be recognized. It really felt like what we’re doing here matters.”