The Gibbon FBLA Chapter had a fantastic showing at the 2025 FBLA State Leadership Conference, held at the Younes Conference Center from April 10–12. Ten members competed at SLC—eight high school and two middle-level students along with over 2,100 business students from across the State of Nebraska.
Group Picture (L to R, Back Row): Mrs. Stroh (HS Adviser), Briahna Brehm, Korbyn Smallcomb, Abbie Miller, Piper Gonzalez, Andrea Montanez, Mr. Miller (ML Adviser)
(Front Row): Reuben Reyes, Ximena Urbina, Halyx Dorsey, Forde Holl, Dayton Hehner
Gibbon FBLA Chapter awards included the Hollis & Kitty Guy Gold Seal Chapter of Merit Award (awarded to the top 15 percent of FBLA chapters in the state), the Sweepstakes Award, Manager Level Nebraska FBLA Dream Team recognition, and eight Ribbon Project awards.
We had 10 Business Achievement Award recipients: Andrea Montanez, Sofia Gaona, Ximena Urbina, Abbie Miller, Daniela Rodriguez, Korbyn Smallcomb, Piper Gonzalez, Reuben Reyes, Cristina Corona, and Ivy Noller.
The All-State Quality Members were Forde Holl, Reuben Reyes, Briahna Brehm, and Ximena Urbina. The Who’s Who in Nebraska FBLA recipient was Forde Holl.
Our chapter had two members place at the State Leadership Conference:
● Halyx Dorsey placed 1st in Exploring Computer Science & Digital Citizenship and 3rd in Financial Literacy.
● Forde Holl received an Honorable Mention in Healthcare Administration.
Halyx will represent Gibbon FBLA at the 2025 National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California, from July 27 to July 3, competing in Exploring Computer Science.
We also had adult award winners representing Gibbon FBLA:
● Ryan Samuelson, past Gibbon FBLA President (1996–1998) with Linda Brodine as his local adviser, and Nebraska FBLA State Vice President (1997–1998), recently served on the Nebraska FBLA State Advisory Council starting in 2022 and will continue serving for the next three years. He also received the 2025 Nebraska FBLA National Businessperson of the Year Award and will represent Nebraska FBLA at the National Leadership Conference in Anaheim this summer.
● Bob Krier, Customer Engagement Manager at Hamilton Telecommunications in Gibbon, received the Nebraska FBLA Local Businessperson of the Year Award as a long-time supporter and booster of Gibbon FBLA. Bob also was a seminar presenter and engaged business students from around the state with “Purpose Driven Leadership: Impacting Your Community Through Volunteering and Giving”.
Gareth Stroh, Gibbon FBLA alumnus from the Class of 2015 and Associate Scrum Master at Hudl, presented a seminar on Thursday, April 10, at the North Younes Conference Center titled “The Road Not Taken.”
The Gibbon FBLA members enjoyed leadership workshops, competitive events, and opening and closing sessions featuring keynote speaker Kyle Willkom, who delivered a powerful message about “Action Packed Leadership.”
