Press Release
Submitted by Brent Lemond
Director of Career and Adult Education
Nassau County School District
March 28, 2015 8:10 a.m.
Two years ago, Trista Reeves competed for a national title in Anaheim, California. Only a sophomore, she was fresh off of a state runner-up finish at the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) competition in Public Speaking. Now she’s the FBLA State Champion in Electronic Career Portfolio, and this summer she’ll be heading to Chicago for another shot at a national title.
If you’re wondering what an “Electronic Career Portfolio” is, visit
on the web. While you’re heading to the computer, prepare to be impressed. After a few clicks, you’ll be ready to hire her to run a Fortune 500 company. “Having served on many professional search committees and reviewed thousands of resumes, I’ve never seen a more impressive portfolio. I’m talking about comparing this to the work of adult professionals,” said Brent Lemond, Nassau County’s Career Education Director.
If you’ve taken the time to look at her online portfolio, you’ll see that she also has many achievements outside of FBLA. She was recently selected as an affiliate winner for the National Center for Women and Information Technology scholarship. The award was based on her computing aspirations and accomplishments, leadership ability, academic history, and plans for post-secondary education. She also has attended the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security in Washington, D.C.
What makes Trista such an outstanding performer? Her business teacher and FBLA sponsor, Michele Stamps, points to her personal initiative. Stamps described her as “consistently taking advantage of opportunities and resources to pursue excellence.”
While the opportunities from FBLA are available to all students, Reeves genuinely pursues things and follows through. Stamps continued, “(Trista is) truly an anomaly amongst her peers; she seeks challenge and constructive criticism. She then consistently goes the extra mile to complete high quality projects.” While the result of her latest effort was a state championship, she already has her sights set higher. Stamps elaborated, “Just today, Trista came to ask me, ‘Mrs. Stamps, how can I make this better for national competition?’ This is what sets her apart; a genuine love of learning and the willingness to take the initiative to be the best that she can be in all she does. She is successful because she pursues excellence. She pursues excellence because she loves to learn.”
Wouldn’t it be great if more students would follow Trista’s lead? Joining FBLA
would be a great start. With over a quarter of a million members, FBLA is the
largest and oldest business student organization in the world. Students, teams, and/or chapters compete in over 60 categories related to technology, leadership, communication, sales, and finance. When asked what FBLA has done for her, Trista replied, “As a highly involved student, I have participated in many clubs and organizations, but there is one characteristic of Future Business Leaders of America that sets it apart from others. FBLA is unique in that it has given me the opportunity to say, ‘I can and have already done that.’ FBLA has provided me with the ability to think like a young professional and understand the importance of leadership in a large organization.”
This year Trista continued to hone her leadership philosophy as the Florida FBLA District IV President. She says that the strongest lesson the experience taught her is that “my purpose, and that of any leader in any organization or business, is not to create followers, but rather to create more leaders out of those who are to come after your time is over. Without FBLA, I would not be the same young lady I have become today. FBLA has given me confidence to go out into the world with an attitude that is determined to succeed, and to always know success does not come from having the best, but rather from making the best of what you have.”
After another strong showing at the district competition where several of her
younger peers advanced to compete at the state level, the future of FBLA in Nassau County is bright. Thanks to outstanding leadership from FBLA sponsors, Joyce Finley, Dee Starks, and Michele Stamps, and to Trista’s work as the district president, there are many success stories. Yulee High School’s Shaynah Bell placed 2nd for Public Speaking II at the state competition, and West Nassau High School’s Matthew Turner placed fourth in Computer Applications. Perhaps that makes Trista even happier than her championship trophy.
For more information on the Nassau County School District’s career programs, contact Brent Lemond at (904) 548-4474, or [email protected]