Three young women in matching black professional blazers pose for a photo. The student on the left and the student in the middle hold small navy blue pennants that read
Three young women in matching black professional blazers pose for a photo. The student on the left and the student in the middle hold small navy blue pennants that read

Each year, faculty and staff from the College of Business participate in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and DECA events to support local high school students. This semester, we had eight amazing faculty and staff members serve as judges and assist with tabling and promotional outreach. Through judging, tabling, and promotional outreach, our faculty and staff help encourage and connect with the next generation of business leaders.

FBLA and DECA are national career and technical student organizations that prepare students for careers in business, marketing, finance, hospitality, and entrepreneurship. Through competitive events, workshops, leadership conferences, and networking opportunities, students develop essential skills such as public speaking, critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving. By competing in business-focused simulations and presenting real-world case studies, students gain hands-on experience that helps them grow into confident, capable future business leaders.

This year at the FBLA district, there were approximately 500 high school students each day which means we connected with nearly 2,000 students through those FBLA events alone. Our involvement also extended to the State DECA Competition, which welcomed an impressive 3,900 high school students in 2026.

A student in a black button-down shirt and khaki pants stands with their back to the camera, speaking to two seated professionals tabling for the FBLA event.

A huge thank you to all of our faculty and staff who participated:

Pam Packer 

Debbie Gillard 

Laurel Lane 

Biswadip Ghosh 

Nicole Vowles 

Biff Baker 

Catherine Jackson 

Donelyn Jones 

Their engagement made a meaningful impact on students exploring their interests in business, marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship.

Five smiling young women stand together in an indoor facility, posing for a photo. They are holding up small, blue MSU Denver stickers. Two of the women are wearing professional cream-colored suits, while the others are dressed in casual dark hoodies and jackets. An exit door with a red

Get Involved at the 2026 Colorado FBLA State Leadership Conference

There is still time to get involved in the upcoming Colorado FBLA State Leadership Conference, which had 3,580 students in attendance in 2025. The 2026 conference will take place April 2-4 at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center.

There are several ways to participate:

Workshop Presenter Proposal
Student attendees value the opportunity to learn from business professionals during workshop seminars at the State Leadership Conference. Consider submitting a proposal to speak and share your expertise with these motivated students.

Competitive Event Judges Sign-Up
The conference relies on volunteer judges to support the competitive events program. No prior experience is required, as all judges receive a full on-site orientation before judging begins. It’s a rewarding experience, and you’ll leave inspired by the talent and professionalism of the students.

Assist with Tabling at FBLA
Friday, April 3, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Help represent and promote our programs while connecting directly with students. (Lunch is provided.)

BACK TO BUSINESS BUZZ