Three local students earn national awards

Three Pembroke High School seniors from the Genesee Valley BOCES Information
Technology Academy won top awards at the Future Business Leaders of America National Leadership Conference last month in California.

Christopher Archer, Dillon Hale and Shane Hale all made the difficult decision to attend the national FBLA conference even though it meant missing their high school graduation ceremony.

The three students had qualified for the national competition by winning their events at the state level. The top 10 students in each national event were recognized at an awards ceremony on June 28.

IT Academy Instructor Lorrie Mazza and Counselor Jason Fitzsimmons chaperoned the trip.

"In my 11 years as an FBLA advisor, this is the first time any of our students has placed in the top 10 nationally," Mazza said. "To have three students in the top five this year alone is truly amazing. I am very proud."

Shane Hale competed in Desktop Application Programming and brought home the third-place trophy. Participants in this event had to design and demonstrate a program aimed at keeping club membership data current.

Dillon Hale competed in Internet Application Programming and won fourth place. This event focuses on systems used over the Internet or Intranet. Competitors had to create and demonstrate a Web application that would allow people to RSVP to a planned event.

Chris Archer competed in Computer Problem Solving and placed fifth.

Participants took an objective test based on competencies in core hardware and operating system technologies including installation, configuration, diagnostics, preventative maintenance and basic networking.

The students also attended leadership seminars and met students from all across the country. More than 7,800 students attended the conference.