On Thursday, September 11, the large cafeteria at Bridgewater-Raritan High School was bustling with students after school as the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) pitched its plans for the upcoming school year.
FBLA is a student-led organization that prepares students in middle and high school for careers in business and entrepreneurship. Through business competitions, community service, and networking opportunities, the club offers students the chance to develop professional skills that will benefit them in their future careers, regardless of whether they choose to pursue a business career.
The event was led by club advisors Keriann Fry and Michael Bittner, and attracted a crowd of more than 200 students who filled the cafeteria with interest for the year ahead.
The meeting began with the introductions of the 2025-2026 officer team. Presidents Amulya Bisaria and Natalie Chen introduced themselves, along with vice presidents Priyanka Kumar and Om Shah, community service coordinator Jack Lee, and fundraising coordinator Rishi Khanna. Other officers, including Publicist Saketh Bongu and Webmaster Vedaang Verma, were also recognized during the meeting.
Following introductions, the officers gave an overview of the many opportunities FBLA offers. They highlighted the club’s various competitive opportunities in categories such as public speaking, presenting, and testing, giving students chances to explore possible areas of interest.
In addition to competitions, the many special trips planned for the year were discussed—one of the most popular aspects of FBLA. These trips allow students to meet and interact with members from other schools across the state and country while having a fun time traveling with friends. They also provide members with the opportunity to compete in real-world business settings, with the chance to earn recognition and awards.
Club advisor, Mr. Bittner, shared what makes FBLA such a special club at BRHS and his vision for the 2025-2026 FBLA team.
“There are almost 80 different events that are based upon real-world business concepts that can help members decide on possible areas of study in college while they work on their presentation skills. Members also enjoy the opportunity to network with other members from around the country,” expressed Mr. Bittner.
“The goals for FBLA for this year are to increase the number of members that qualify to attend the State Leadership Conference in Atlantic City in March and at the National Leadership Conference at the end of June that will be held in San Antonio, Texas,” he added.
Next, fundraising for the club and competitions was discussed. Each student who desired to attend competitions was given a box of Hershey’s chocolate to sell, with proceeds going toward competition expenses.
Senior Amulya Bisaria, one of the FBLA presidents, explained his goals for the club and what he believes distinguishes the club.
“Our number one focus is helping more members win awards this year. We are going to have dedicated study meetings where members can get resources and advice from past finalists. We’re also planning the first-ever BRHS home leadership conference,” explained Bisaria. “The sheer size of our community is something that truly sets us apart from other clubs. We had nearly 200 members show up to our first meeting, and I think we have the potential to do some great things as a team through this year,” he added.
To conclude the meeting, officers led an exciting game of Shark Tank. Students were challenged to develop business plans and pitch their ideas in front of the audience, introducing the club’s environment.
The large attendance and enthusiasm signaled a strong start to FBLA’s new year. For those interested in joining FBLA, the Google Classroom code is: u3nwwqn. Email Mrs. Fry ([email protected]) or Mr. Bittner ([email protected]) with any questions.
