PHOTO COURTESY OF FBLA

THE THIRD ANNUAL FBLA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT RAISED MONEY BY RAFFLING OFF PRIZES AND CHARGING A FEE TO PARTICIPATING TEAMS.

FBLA, Milgard raise $5,000

By Meghan Erkkinen

The third-annual FBLA-Milgard basketball tournament was a huge success, raising $5,000 for Fife High’s future business leaders to attend a state conference, according to Christiann Thomas, an advisor for the student organization.

The annual tournament is a partnership between Milgard Windows employees, who participate in the tournament and help raise money, and FBLA students, who organize and run the event.

For the tournament, Milgard employees pay registration fees, and the FBLA charges an admissions fee. There is also a concession stand and raffle items to raise additional money. This year’s raffle baskets included a baseball signed by Felix Hernandez and a Marcus Trufant signed jersey.

“The connection Fife FBLA has with Milgard Manufactur-ing is amazing,” Thomas said. “We really appreciate their team attitude as their community support makes them a great, socially responsible company.”

Thomas expects about 30 FBLA students to participate in the state conference in Bellevue April 10-12.

The students all placed at the regional FBLA conference in Bremerton Feb. 5. First-place winners include: Tierney Kuhn, for business communications and accounting; Cassandra Hall and Maery Simmons, for emerging business issues; Adara Schweikart, for future business leader; Devin Ritchey, for introduction to business; Sukhbir Randhawa, for impromptu speaking; Riley Larson, for networking concepts; and Kyle McCrossin, for public speaking.

Last year, the tournament raised $2,500. The students needed to raise a significant amount this year, as a lot of students were participating and the cost of lodging in Bellevue is relatively high.

More than just raising money, though, Thomas said the tournament teaches the students important lessons.

“The tournament teaches the students about job responsibility, commitment, organizational skills, community service, as well as helping them understand the importance of networking with the business community,” Thomas said.

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