Yulee Middle School’s Robert Cooke Takes First Place in Business Ethics at the Future Business Leaders of America National Competition

Nassau County School District
Submitted by Brent Lemond
Director of Career and Adult Education
(904) 548-4474 Office

July 13, 2017 5:26 p.m.

The 2016-17 school year had already been the most successful to date for Nassau County Future Business Leaders. Two students from the county won state championships. A record eight students qualified for nationals, four of whom made the trip to Anaheim, California to join 9,600 of America’s best and brightest secondary students to vie for a national title.

From Left to Right: Brent Lemond, Nassau County Schools Career Ed Director; Jonathan Maurer, FBHS Rising Senior; Brody Mandelbaum, FBHS Rising Junior; Joshua Sheffield, FBHS Recent Graduate; Robert Cooke, YMS Rising 7th Grader; and Stephanie Landtroop, FBHS FBLA Chapter Advisor.

Robert Cooke from Yulee Middle School received national recognition at the FBLA Awards of Excellence Program on July 2. Cooke competed in the Business Ethics Middle School Open Competitive Event.

While there were approximately 70 high school level competitions that aligned to the state competitions, middle school students chose between only four contests. Cooke qualified for nationals by winning the Public Speaking competition at the Florida competition, but that wasn’t one of the choices at the national event. He chose Business Ethics and ended up bringing home first place. The test was comprised of ethical concepts and laws as they relate to employment, customer relations, advertising, and business agreements.

Cooke was joined at the competition by Fernandina Beach High School students Jonathan Maurer, Joshua Sheffield, and Brody Mandelbaum. For many students like Sheffield, the competitive events are the capstone activity of their academic careers. Sheffield, who graduated this past May, will be attending the University of Florida. He hopes that his preparation in spreadsheet applications will help him land an internship in Accounting. Still, the national conference involves much more than the competitions. The students immersed themselves in interactive workshops, visited an information-packed exhibit hall, and heard from motivational speakers on a broad range of business topics. Maurer and Mandelbaum, like Cooke, will take what they have learned in hopes of helping their school chapter reach new levels of success in the coming year.

Photograph

From Left to Right: Brent Lemond, Nassau County Schools Career Ed Director; Jonathan Maurer, FBHS Rising Senior; Brody Mandelbaum, FBHS Rising Junior; Joshua Sheffield, FBHS Recent Graduate; Robert Cooke, YMS Rising 7th Grader; and Stephanie Landtroop, FBHS FBLA Chapter Advisor.

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