VSU Students Rise to the Top at FBLA National Leadership Conference
National championships, top 10 finishes, and Outstanding Chapter recognition highlight a historic showing for VSU Collegiate FBLA.
Virginia State University’s FBLA Collegiate chapter established itself as one of the top-performing chapters in the United States following an exceptional showing at the FBLA National Leadership Conference this past summer. VSU students earned multiple national top-10 finishes, and second place in the Outstanding Chapter competition.
One of the most significant achievements came in the Accounting Case Study competition. For the first time in 10 years, Virginia State University placed nationally in accounting—and the team did not simply place. Geovany Disla and Gabrielle Gunn captured first place, earning the title of FBLA Collegiate national champions.
Their historic victory represents an important milestone for the chapter and demonstrates the academic preparation, business knowledge, and competitive excellence of VSU students.
Virginia State University also earned second place nationally for Outstanding Chapter. This award recognizes the chapter’s overall excellence in leadership, student engagement, professional development, community service, and organizational achievement. Receiving this honor places VSU among the leading FBLA Collegiate chapters in the nation.
The chapter’s success extended beyond student competition. Dr. Aurelia Nicholas-Donald was named Virginia FBLA Collegiate Advisor of the Year in recognition of her leadership, mentorship, and commitment to preparing students for success. Under her guidance, VSU FBLA Collegiate has continued to expand its membership, strengthen its competitive program, and increase its presence at the state and national levels.
These accomplishments reflect the talent and determination of VSU’s students, the support of the university community, and the chapter’s commitment to excellence. Virginia State University proudly congratulates its FBLA Collegiate members and advisor for representing the institution with distinction and establishing VSU as a national leader in collegiate business education and competition.
“We are tremendously proud of our FBLA students for their outstanding performance on the national stage,” says Dr. Venkat Mummalaneni, Interim Dean, Reginald F. Lewis College of Business. “Their championships and numerous top-ten finishes demonstrate their talent, determination, and professionalism, while also affirming the quality and relevance of the education we provide at the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business. I commend Dr. Aurelia Nicholas-Donald and the faculty mentors whose guidance helped prepare these students to compete with confidence and distinction. Their success shows that our graduates are developing the knowledge, leadership skills, and competitive readiness needed to excel in today’s business world.”
National Finalists
VSU advanced students to the final rounds in six competitive-event categories:
- Accounting Case Study: Geovany Disla and Gabrielle Gunn
- Business Presentation: Xavier Drewrey and Elise Thomas
- Marketing and Sales Case Study: Elijah Adams, Camron Cooper, Simone Jones, and Taylor Williams
- Public Speaking: Amiyah Ponton
- State of the Chapter Presentation: Elijah Adams, Abigail Rancy, and Makayla Robinson
- Technology and Computer Science Case Study: Nya’Lynn Cherry, Gregory Gibson, and Nia Roper
Building upon this strong showing, VSU students achieved remarkable success in the final rounds. During the FBLA National Leadership Conference Closing Awards Ceremony on June 8, numerous competitors received top-10 national recognition. For the second consecutive year, Amiyah Ponton, a Business Management major from Richmond, Virginia, received the honor of opening the ceremony by singing the national anthem. In addition to representing VSU through her musical talent, Ponton distinguished herself as a national competitor by earning second place in Parliamentary Procedure and fourth place in Public Speaking.
National Final Results
- Accounting Case Study—First Place: Geovany Disla and Gabrielle Gunn, national champions
- Business Presentation—Fourth Place: Xavier Drewrey and Elise Thomas
- Foundations of Computer Science—10th Place: Gregory Gibson
- Foundations of Entrepreneurship—10th Place: Michael Richmond
- Marketing and Sales Case Study—Second Place: Elijah Adams, Camron Cooper, Simone Jones, and Taylor Williams
- Outstanding Chapter—Second Place: Virginia State University
- Parliamentary Procedure—Second Place: Amiyah Ponton
- Public Speaking—Fourth Place: Amiyah Ponton
- Social Networking Leadership Challenge—First Place: Elijah Adams
- Social Networking Leadership Challenge—Second Place: Jerimiah Moody
- State of the Chapter Presentation—Eighth Place: Elijah Adams, Abigail Rancy, and Makayla Robinson
- Virginia FBLA Collegiate Advisor of the Year: Dr. Aurelia Nicholas-Donald
The results include two first-place finishes, three second-place finishes, and several additional top-10 national awards. Amiyah Ponton distinguished herself by earning national recognition in both Parliamentary Procedure and Public Speaking, while Elijah Adams received awards in multiple events, including first place in the Social Networking Leadership Challenge.