SEARSPORT — A group of business-enamored students at Searsport District High School are in the midst of celebrating the nationally-recognized Future Business Leaders of America Week. To have the week celebrated in Maine, Senator Chip Curry of Waldo County sponsored a resolution to have FBLA Week recognized in Maine and the resolution was passed by both chambers of the legislature. 

FBLA, a nationwide organization offering the opportunity for students to gain leadership experiences, and participate in competitive events and conferences while establishing professional connections, earning scholarships, performing community service and sharpening relevant career and personal skills.

The club at SDHS is in its fourth school year as a chapter with senior Max Provencher credited as the chapter’s founder. At present, the club sports 15 members across all four of the high school’s grade, an increase of nearly double from the 2020-2021 school year. Serving as co-president of the chapter this school year are juniors Sebastian Krumbholz and Cole Ellis. 

The chapter is bustling with activity to increase the financial literacy knowledge of its members with part of that knowledge coming through a speaker series hosted by the chapter. The chapter has hosted one area business leader, Darren Shute, and has plans to host more local business leaders in the spring.

The club also launched a schoolwide investment competition on MarketWatch to promote financial literacy among their peers not in the club. Using fake money students can invest in companies they believe will succeed, explained Provencher, with participating students presented the chance to win $100. 

Members of the club are also engaged in a sponsorship drive seeking monetary support from local businesses to support the chapter. Members are learning how to write and send sponsorship letters and how to call and, hopefully, successfully land a sponsorship for the chapter. (Businesses interested in receiving more information about sponsoring the club can contact Ellis at ellisc23@rsu20.org.)

Reasoning for wanting to join the school’s FBLA chapter centered around a desire to expand their own knowledge of financial literacy and spreading that knowledge to their peers. 

“I was inclined to join FBLA because I have always been interested in financial literacy, and options within this field are minimal in a small school,” remarked Ellis. “This club’s focus in financial literacy and business leadership and has taught me more than most classes.”

Krumbholz and his sister, Kiara, the chapter’s secretary and a freshman, noted they were intrigued by the opportunities the club presented, with Sebastian noting he had little experience with business leadership and financial literature when joining the club. 

“I wanted a way to explore my passion for business and investing, and I also saw an opportunity to provide other students with the same type of enrichment,” said Provencher.

When asked why promoting financial literacy to their peers is important, each of the four noted the desire is rooted in wanting their friends to be successful and financially stable. 

“If we don't [promote financial literacy], nobody else will. I see so many students graduate without the skills they need to make smart financial decisions,” Provencher said. “Financial literacy can be the difference between a comfortable retirement and an overworked unsatisfied career.”

“Working a 9-5 for someone else is way different than working a 5-9 for yourself,” commented Ellis, while Sebastian Krumbholz noted promoting financial literacy, especially though a program such as a FBLA, “paves the way for the next generation to understand what is going on in the business world or just their daily lives.” 

All four agreed they are learning worthwhile skills and traits through the FBLA club. 

“The most useful trait I've learned from FBLA is how to communicate with local businesses and how to interact with business leaders,” said Ellis. 

“The most useful trait that I have obtained from FBLA is the ability to reach out to my community and be able to talk to business owners about the journey of starting their business,” commented Sebastian Krumbholz. 

“The most useful trait would be knowing about businesses and what they do,” remarked Kiara Krumbholz. 

“By far the most useful thing I have gained from FBLA is the ability to conduct a concise meeting among any group under nearly any circumstances,” added Provencher.