MOUNT OLIVE, NC – Students from the University of Mount Olive Tillman School of Business demonstrated strong performance and professional skill at the 72nd Annual North Carolina FBLA Collegiate State Leadership Conference, with each participant earning a place among the Elite Eight in at least one competitive event.
Five UMO Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) scholars represented the University, gaining hands-on experience in business-related competitions while earning multiple top finishes across a range of categories.
Chapter Co-President Sierra Krieger, a business administration major with concentrations in management and human resource management from Goldsboro, NC, placed fourth in Emerging Business Issues and fifth in Retail Management. Fellow Co-President Campbell Buehl, a justice studies major with a minor in marketing from Virginia Beach, VA, earned second place in Impromptu Speaking and sixth place in Public Speaking.
Chapter Treasurer Diontae’ Smith, a marketing major from Dunn, NC, earned first place in both Foundations of Communication and Foundations of Selling. He also placed fourth in the Management Case Competition and seventh in the Marketing, Sales, and Communication Case event.
Destin Bray, a management major from Orange, VA, placed sixth in both Emerging Business Issues and the Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition, while Cayden McKoy, a cybersecurity and applied computer science major from Erwin, NC, earned fifth place in Impromptu Speaking.
The students were accompanied by FBLA advisors Dr. Norman Crumpacker and Mrs. Sonya O’Brien, who served as mentors and contributed to the conference as event administrators and judges. Dr. Crumpacker said the results reflect both the students’ preparation and the strength of the University’s business programs. “This level of success shows how well our students can apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world situations,” he said. “They represented the University of Mount Olive with professionalism and confidence, and experiences like this help prepare them for future careers in business and leadership.”Participation in the State Leadership Conference provides students with opportunities to strengthen communication and leadership skills while engaging with peers from colleges and universities across North Carolina.
