By McAye Fegler
CSC College Relations
CHADRON – High school students from western Nebraska participated in the Eighth Annual Best of the West Competition on Jan. 29 at Chadron State College. The contest follows Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) rules and is hosted to prepare contestants for the FBLA State Leadership Conference in Kearney, Nebraska, in April.
The event was co-sponsored by CSC and the Nebraska Council of Economic Education (NCEE).
“The Best of the West Invitational is a premier event for the Nebraska Council. Dr. (Gary) Dusek runs an incredible event that shows students and teachers the respect and professionalism they deserve. We are so happy to have this incredible relationship in the Western part of the state. Institutions like Chadron State College are vital to having a network that truly touches every part of the good life,” said Matt Pierson, Associate Director of the Nebraska Council on Economic Education.
Dusek, an Associate Professor of Business and Department Chair, created the competition with the NCEE and administers the event on campus. He said he was appreciative to all the volunteers and CSC employees who helped with the event.
Overall Team Winners
1st – Alliance High School – 88 points
2nd – Chadron High School – 60 points
3rd – Sidney High School – 56 points
Individual Placings
Accounting
1st – Emily McCune – Alliance High School
2nd – Cody Penaluna – Hemingford High School
3rd – Tobin Rust – Chadron High School
4th – Faith Frye – Sidney High School
5th – Asher Saka – Alliance High School
Business Calculations
1st – Emily McCune – Alliance High School
2nd – Billy Hy – Chadron High School
3rd – Cody Penaluna – Hemingford High School
4th – Chelsea Stephens – Chadron High School
5th – Ryan Ragsdale – Hemingford High School
Business Communications
1st – Chili Potmesil – Alliance High School
2nd – Kinzie Bridge – Alliance High School
3rd – Lillian Dorshorst – Hay Springs High School
4th – Jace Paopao – Chadron High School
5th – Leighton Reagle – Valentine High School
Economics
1st – Thomas Smith – Chadron High School
2nd – Brian Roland – Hemingford High School
3rd – Cody Galles – Hemingford High School
4th – Noel Onate – Sidney High School
5th – Aiden Vinton – Chadron High School
Introduction to Business
1st – Dominic Beebout – Valentine High School
2nd – Dan Grunig – Sidney High School
3rd – Barrett Wiegand – Sidney High School
4th – Matthew Sorenson – Chadron High School
5th – Jacob Dorshorst – Hay Springs High School
Introduction to FBLA
1st – Addison Belford – Alliance High School
2nd – Jacob Dorshorst – Hay Springs High School
3rd – Amelia Wade – Alliance High School
4th – Santos Betancud – Alliance High School
5th – Braylon Branson – Chadron High School
Introduction to Financial Mathematics
1st – Barrett Wiegand – Sidney High School
2nd – Matthew Sorenson – Chadron High School
3rd – Leighton Reagle – Valentine High School
4th – Dominic Beebout – Valentine High School
5th – Madelyn Kennedy – Sidney High School
Marketing
1st – Henry Hoff – Alliance High School
2nd – Chili Potmesil – Alliance High School
3rd – Noel Onate – Sidney High School
4th – Robert Stevens – Sidney High School
5th – Thomas Smith – Chadron High School
Personal Finance
1st – Kinzie Bridge – Alliance High School
2nd – Lillian Dorshorst – Hay Springs High School
3rd – Gavin Bell – Hemingford High School
4th – Christen Larson – Valentine High School
5th – Chelsea Stephens – Chadron High School
Job Interview
1st – Faith Frye – Sidney High School
2nd – Talon Jelinek – Chadron High School
3rd – Gavin Bell – Hemingford High School