A Penn State Schuylkill student earned a national title after taking first place in business communications at the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Collegiate National Leadership Conference held June 6-8 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Carter Strouse, a third-year corporate communication major with a minor in business and the sports certificate, represented Penn State Schuylkill's FBLA Collegiate chapter and claimed first place in the Business Communication competition, outperforming students from colleges and universities across the country.
The Business Communication event challenged competitors to respond to an unknown real-world business scenario and produce professional business communications within one hour. This year's competition required participants to prepare an internal memo, a client letter and an executive brief after a software update delayed appointment reminders for patients using a medical communication platform.
"I had to produce three documents that required a lot of information in only one hour," Strouse said. "Effective time management was the key to getting everything completed. I'm very proud to say that in my third time attending FBLA's National Leadership Conference, I finally placed first in Business Communication. I'm already excited about defending my first-place finish at next year's conference in Columbus, Ohio."
The national championship marks the culmination of three years of steady improvement for Strouse. As a first-year student, he placed second at the Pennsylvania state conference before finishing seventh nationally in Orlando. During his second year, he again earned a second-place finish at the state level and placed eighth nationally in Dallas. This year, he captured both the Pennsylvania state title and the national championship in Las Vegas, earning a $300 cash prize.
Also representing Penn State Schuylkill was Alex Kull, a third-year business marketing and management major with a minor in criminal justice. Kull placed fourth nationally in Parliamentary Procedure and received the Dorothy L. Travis Award at the conference.
"Watching Carter's persistence and dedication pay off with a national championship has been incredibly rewarding," said Lisa Robinson, business lecturer and FBLA Collegiate adviser at Penn State Schuylkill. "Both Carter and Alex exemplify the professionalism, leadership and commitment to excellence that FBLA encourages. Their accomplishments showcase not only their talents but also the opportunities available to our students through experiential learning and competition."
More than 1,300 attendees representing nearly 200 colleges and universities from 29 U.S. states and territories participated in the 2026 FBLA Collegiate National Leadership Conference. Students competed in 42 business-related events for scholarships and cash prizes totaling nearly $60,000 while also taking part in educational workshops and networking opportunities with colleges, universities and employers.
The conference also featured keynote speaker Jared Ebersole, an FBLA high school alumnus and co-founder of Lectec, who shared his entrepreneurial journey and discussed the challenges of building a business and becoming a leader.
"This year's National Leadership Conference showcased the incredible talent and dedication of our student members," said FBLA President and CEO Jennifer Woods. "From analytical thinking to dynamic communication, they demonstrated the skills that will shape tomorrow's workforce. These college students leave Las Vegas not only with well-earned recognition, but also with new connections, confidence and a clearer path toward their future careers."