Uma Champe, a senior at Longmont High School, placed sixth in the nation in the Job Interview competition at the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference in Orlando June 27 – July 2. This is the second consecutive year the school has had a top-ten finisher in this category.
Uma joined FBLA in February 2024 and began competing by participating in the Job Interview event at the Regional competition. “I immediately enjoyed the improvisation and quick thinking required and went on to compete at State and eventually Nationals,” she shared. “My event, Job Interview, is designed to simulate the conditions of an actual interview, nerves and all. You enter a small booth and face two to three judges who are typically highly successful business people. From there, you are asked typical interview questions such as, ‘So, tell me a little about yourself?’ and ‘What skills make you a good fit for this job?’”
What excited Uma about the Job Interview event at Nationals was the opportunity to apply and complete a mock interview for an internship position at the fictitious Merit Corporation. “Your interview is scored on a rubric, and I studied these guidelines as my primary preparation for the competition,” shared Uma. “After completing my first interview, I learned the next day that I had advanced to finals and competed in my second and final round, both of which lasted around 10 minutes. On the third and final day of the conference, I received notice of my sixth place finish which was very exciting for me.”
For Uma, attending FBLA Nationals was a wonderful experience. “I met students from all over the United States and the world, attended financial planning and business seminars, and did some uniquely Florida things like looking for gators and going to Universal Studios,” she shared. “The Job Interview event greatly improved my communication and professionalism skills. In the competition, I applied for an internship in the field that I hope to work in, public policy, and I believe that these simulated interviews have prepared me for real-life job applications. My favorite thing from the trip, however, was trading pins representing each state with other students, which I soon learned is an FBLA tradition.”
James Giveans, FBLA Advisor and Business Teacher, shared his excitement about Uma’s achievement. “It was her first year participating in FBLA and she did well. She’s a very polished student and it doesn’t surprise me that she was able to place so high.”
Ten students from Longmont earned the opportunity to participate in this year’s conference, the largest group the school has ever sent to Nationals. More than 13,000 students from across the world competed at the event in more than 100 business-related categories. “I’m so proud of all the students and how hard they worked,” said Giveans. “It was such a great group and they all did really well.”
Longmont’s FBLA chapter, the largest in Colorado, has served as a launching pad for aspiring young leaders by connecting them with resources, mentorship, and opportunities to excel in business. “Senior Tony Bermudez, who also competed at Nationals, is the State Representative for FBLA District 2 which is a big deal,” said Giveans. “We’ve never had a Longmont High student do that before.” The Colorado FBLA High School State Officers are a team of students dedicated to the planning and execution of the state program of work, Colorado FBLA High School Fall Leadership Conference, and Colorado FBLA High School State Leadership Conference.