Navigating FBLA NLC Scholarships: A Comprehensive Guide

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) offers numerous opportunities for members to achieve recognition and secure scholarships to support their academic and professional aspirations. Through various awards and scholarships, FBLA is a great way to be recognized for your achievements. This article aims to provide a detailed overview of the FBLA National Leadership Conference (NLC) scholarships, eligibility criteria, and application requirements, helping students navigate the process effectively.

FBLA Scholarships: An Overview

FBLA provides several scholarships to its members, acknowledging their involvement and achievements within the association. These scholarships are designed to support students in their pursuit of higher education and leadership development. Among the notable scholarships are the National Leadership Conference (NLC) Scholarship and the Distinguished Business Leader Scholarship.

National Leadership Conference (NLC) Scholarship

The National Leadership Conference Scholarship is designed to award FBLA High School and FBLA Middle School members with funding that will serve as a leadership investment to assist members in attending NLC. The scholarship is to be used for conference and travel-related expenses. Up to 50 scholarships will be awarded. This scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to FBLA High School and FBLA Middle School members, enabling them to attend the National Leadership Conference (NLC). It serves as a leadership investment, covering conference and travel-related expenses. Each NLC scholarship will be $500, plus a complimentary registration to NLC. Up to 50 scholarships are awarded.

Eligibility Criteria and Application Information:

Open to FBLA High School and FBLA Middle School Members who plan to attend NLC.
Must be dues-paid members as of March 1.
Must submit NLC Scholarship application.
The completed application form.
Applicants must have a cumulative, minimum weighted grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent. An unofficial transcript must be provided that verifies GPA.
A resume outlining involvement in FBLA High School or FBLA Middle School, leadership positions held, and awards received.
A one-page signed letter of recommendation from the applicant’s local chapter adviser describing the applicant’s qualifications and achievements, and affirming demonstrated financial aid.
One-page essay. The topic: “Define and explain the difference between a leader and a follower.” The essay must be double-spaced and Arial or Georgia 12-point font.

Distinguished Business Leader Scholarship

The Distinguished Business Leader Scholarship is designed to recognize outstanding FBLA members for their activity and involvement in the association. The number of scholarships given depends on yearly contributions to the FBLA Distinguished Business Leader Scholarship fund. This scholarship recognizes FBLA members for their active participation and contributions to the association. The scholarship amount is $500. The number of scholarships awarded annually depends on the contributions to the FBLA Distinguished Business Leader Scholarship fund.

Criteria & Application Information:

Open to graduating FBLA High School members who plan to pursue a post-secondary education and become actively involved in FBLA Collegiate at the post-secondary level.
Must be a high school senior to apply.
Must be dues-paid members of FBLA by March 1.
Successful achievement of either the Advocate or Capstone level of the Business Achievement Awards (BAA) program.
Must submit Distinguished Business Leader Scholarship Form:
The completed application form.
A one-page cover letter summarizing FBLA, business, leadership, and community activities.
A resume outlining FBLA activities and educational achievements.
One letter of recommendation from a chapter adviser, a teacher, or a business/community leader.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

Besides the NLC and Distinguished Business Leader Scholarships, FBLA members can explore other scholarship opportunities:

Long Island University Scholarship: Long Island University is offering a Presidential Scholarship to all FBLA members graduating. This is a merit-based scholarship valued at $40,248 per year. To be considered for this LIU scholarship, you must apply for the Fall semester.
Johnson & Wales University Scholarship: FBLA members are eligible for JWU scholarships up to full tuition.
National Technical Honor Society Scholarship: The National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) is pleased to continue our partnership with FBLA by helping to promote their mission, providing two scholarships to active FBLA members who are also current NTHS members in good standing, and providing funding for.
Dressed to Impress Scholarship: FBLA’s professional attire grant program for students This need-based scholarship provides members or chapters with $300 to purchase professional attire. Eligibility: Criteria & Application Information: Middle School and High School members must complete their application with their adviser. Collegiate members can.
Distinguished Business Leader Scholarship (Collegiate): This scholarship is designed to recognize outstanding FBLA Collegiate members for their activity and involvement in the association. The number of scholarships given depends on yearly contributions to the FBLA Collegiate Distinguished Business Leader Scholarship fund. Amount:$500 Individual Award and…

Recognition and Awards

FBLA offers several awards and recognitions to honor outstanding members and chapters. These accolades not only celebrate achievements but also motivate members to strive for excellence.

Who’s Who

This award honors exemplary FBLA members who have made outstanding contributions to the association at the local, state, and national levels. Each state may enter one participant who is a member of an active local chapter and on record as of paying dues by March 1 of the current school year for recognition at the National Leadership Conference. The entry form must be completed by the State Leader or their designee. Criteria for selection of nominees by the state chapter should include:

Years of participation in FBLA activities
Extent of participation in state and national conferences
Contributions to local, state, and national projects
Participation in other activities

Outstanding Chapter Adviser

Each state may nominate one local adviser who will be recognized at the National Leadership Conference for exemplary leadership, significant contributions to the development of FBLA members, and belief in the goals of FBLA and business education.

Gold Seal Chapter: Hollis & Kitty Guy Award of Merit

The Hollis and Kitty Guy Award recognize outstanding local chapters that have actively participated in projects and programs identified with the goals of FBLA. Active local chapters must be nominated by the State Leader or their designee, and be on record in the national center as having paid dues by March 1 of the current school year.

Additional Programs and Opportunities within FBLA

FBLA provides a wide array of programs and events aimed at fostering leadership, business acumen, and community involvement among its members.

Fundraising Initiatives

FBLA is joining forces with Funds2Orgs to introduce an innovative fundraising solution exclusively designed for more than 5,500 chapters. FBLA is committed to fostering personal leadership growth through exceptional leadership programs. However, to achieve your chapter’s goals and essential program needs, we’ve discovered the perfect solution! Step into the realm of change-making with our unique shoe drive fundraiser-a campaign that not only benefits your community but also communities worldwide. Forget about asking for monetary donations or selling unwanted items. Instead, simply collect gently worn, used, and new shoes. Your Success, Your Earnings: There’s no cap on your fundraising potential. The best part? This fundraiser comes entirely FREE for your chapter, members, and all generous donors. We’ve got your back, providing all the necessary tools for your fundraising triumph. Seize this incredible opportunity to empower your chapter and members to become a force for good. Are you ready to surpass your fundraising goals and create a lasting impact? Fill out the form below to get more information or call Funds2Orgs at 407-930-2979 and mention FBLA. Lakeside Jr/Sr High School's Future Business Leaders of America shoe drive yields over 1000 pairs of shoes.

Started in 1978, Country Meats has been helping fundraisers across the country “meat” their goals with mouth watering snack sticks. Offering both online and in-person fundraising opportunities, you are sure to find the perfect fit for your next fundraiser. Want a taste? Here's how it works: just fill out our easy online form to create an account for your nonprofit. Sell Meat Sticks In-Person. Think you know what your supporters will love? Take Meat Stick Pre-Orders. After you create your account, grab a few of our handy pre-order forms and start taking pre-orders. Get your friends, family members, and co-workers to commit to their favorite flavors in whatever quantity they desire. Aggregate the orders, purchase the product*, and then deliver delicious meat sticks to your eager customers. Online Fundraising. Go digital with your fundraising efforts. When you create an account, just indicate that you'd like to participate in online fundraising and we'll provide you with a custom ordering URL. You pay just $.75 for each meat stick that you'll sell for $1.50. That means you get to keep 50% of the proceeds from each meat stick - that's a whopping $113 for every case you sell! Whatever your cause, our selection of sweet, savory, and spicy meat sticks will have your classmates, friends, family members, and neighbors lining up to support your nonprofit. Still not sold?

Stock Market Game (SMG)

FBLA SMG portfolios are ranked by percentage growth compared to the S&P 500 Index. Team fees are NON-REFUNDABLE and will NOT carry over to the next semester. Registration opens September 3, 2024 for the Fall Stock Market Game . Step 2. Step 3. The top 3 chapters in each division will receive a digital certificate, and each team member will receive a medallion.

Explore.Act.Tell. (E.A.T.) Program

The Explore.Act.Tell. (E.A.T.) Program engages students in grades 6-12 in project-based learning focused on addressing hunger and food insecurity in their communities. Explore.Act.Tell. - Fully Funded: There’s no cost for teachers, advisors, or student group leaders. - NEW for the 2025-2026 school year! Special grants to the best hunger insecurity-focused projects submitted by FBLA teams will be awarded by Explore.Act.Tell. About FILL/Explore.Act.Tell. Founded in 2003, the Foundation for Literacy and Learning (FILL) is a public charity dedicated to providing high-quality programming for educators and students nationwide. Register for the Explore.Act.Tell. NEW! Six, $500 each, grants will be awarded by the Foundation for Literacy and Learning and the Explore.Act.Tell. Program to the best hunger insecurity-focused projects submitted by FBLA teams.

Competitive Events

Congratulations on the members placing 1st in a national competitive event at the 2025 State Leadership Conference. A member must place first at the 2025 State Leadership Conference in a national competitive event. Following the National Leadership Conference registration deadline, Iowa FBLA state staff will make a statement adjustment prior to generating invoices for chapters attending the conference.

Educational Resources and Partnerships

FBLA collaborates with various organizations to provide members with valuable educational resources and opportunities.

Fidelity Financial Forward®: At Fidelity, we’re committed to helping educators teach high school students about money. These free classroom materials focus on personal finance concepts for high school students. Infographics and 30-second videos to use during or after sessions to help reinforce concepts and generate discussions. Whether you’re a veteran teacher or new to the profession, we invite you to visit the Fidelity Financial Forward® site to learn more.
Educators Portal: The Portal includes access to information, materials, and content that easily integrates into curriculum planning for executing and measuring digital marketing campaigns. Educators Portal - designed for educators, our Portal provides a comprehensive set of free educational resources and instructional materials. These modules take learners through the basics of digital marketing - from starting a campaign through to executing and measuring a campaign.
Knowledge Matters: Knowledge Matters is sponsoring the Virtual Business Finance Challenge, a newly recognized official competitive event. This event will be based on the Virtual Business-Personal Finance Online simulation. The top 20 nationally ranked teams from each qualifying round will qualify to compete in a virtual final round to take place online in May. Knowledge Matters is sponsoring the Virtual Business Management Challenge, an official competitive event. This event will be based on the Virtual Business-Management Online simulation. The top 20 nationally ranked teams from each qualifying round will qualify to compete in a virtual final round to take place online April 1-5, 2014.
Rubin Education: Rubin is the leader in online resources for employability skills. Emerge: K-12 business communications skills platform with 300+ instructional items for writing and speaking skills. Aspire: Robust career exploration platform with 250+ interviews with professionals in health science, business, STEM and more.
AICPA via ThisWayToCPA.com: AICPA via ThisWayToCPA.com introduces students to careers in accounting and helps them envision the steps to becoming a CPA. ThisWayToCPA.com/faculty also provides supplemental resources to assist educators and further engage students in accounting. auditing standards for private companies, not-for-profit organizations, and federal, state, and local governments.
BU: BU is a standards-based, interactive curriculum platform with full-year courses including Marketing, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Intro to Business, Economics, Management, Finance, and MS Office Certification Prep Courses. Each lesson provides video content presented from a group of young, diverse entrepreneurs, and various formative and summative (auto-graded) assessments, individual and collaborative activities and projects, ethical challenges, bellringers, discussions, & exams. Also check out BU at the Bell - a weekly bellringer series with video episodes covering current events in the business world, currently in Season Four.
Score A Better Future Fundamentals: Score A Better Future Fundamentals is a free credit education curriculum that readies participants to make informed credit decisions that last a lifetime. Our mission is to make credit education fun, simple, and accessible to individuals across geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds. FICO is a leading analytics software company, helping businesses in 90+ countries make better decisions that drive higher levels of growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction.

Higher Education Partnerships

FBLA has established partnerships with several universities and colleges to offer scholarships and educational opportunities to its members.

Long Island University (LIU): Long Island University (LIU), founded in 1926, continues to redefine higher education, providing high quality academic instruction by world-class faculty. Long Island University is strategically located in the New York City metro area with campuses in Brooklyn and Long Island. LIU Brooklyn is an 11-acre campus located in the heart of downtown Brooklyn, just a short subway ride from Manhattan. The School of Business offers Accountancy, Artificial Intelligence, Business Administration, Data Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, and Marketing. LIU Brooklyn’s campus offers more professional programs in health care than any other campus in the New York metropolitan area, including the Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy & Health Science, and The Harriet Rothkopf Heilbrunn School of Nursing. LIU Post is a scenic, historic, and scholarly campus that offers a small-school environment with the access and resources of a major metropolitan university. The University's 330-acre campus is located on the estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 27 miles east of New York City on Long Island's Gold Coast. The campus houses The College of Management with Artificial Intelligence, Business Administration, Data Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Fashion Merchandising & Management, Finance, Marketing, and Sports Management; as well as the first professional School of Accountancy, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and an award-winning theater program. The College of Management at LIU Post is an AACSB-accredited Business School-a distinction given to only 5% of business schools internationally. LIU Global offers a one-of-a-kind bachelor’s degree earned the globe.
Johnson & Wales University (JWU): As one of the first colleges founded by two women, Gertrude Johnson and Mary Wales, a progressive, experiential education, approach to learning is at our core. Since 1914, our goal has been for students to make the most of their time -to bring out their potential and turn it into a career. FBLA members are eligible for JWU scholarships up to full tuition.
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD): SCAD enrolls more than 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 100 countries. The innovative SCAD curriculum is enhanced by advanced professional-level technology and other learning resources, as well as opportunities for internships, professional certifications, and collaborative projects with corporate partners. In 2019, the prestigious Red Dot Design Rankings placed SCAD as the No. and in the top two universities in the Americas and Europe for the third consecutive year. Career preparation is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate.
Ringling College of Art and Design: Ringling College of Art and Design was established in 1931, with 75 students and 13 faculty members. Ringling College is the only institution in Florida dedicated exclusively to teaching art and design. The College believes that creative thinkers represent tomorrow's leaders and play a significant role in society as scholars, artists, designers, and creative professionals.

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