Viola High School’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter earned top recognition and celebrated multiple student successes at the Arkansas FBLA State Leadership Conference, held April 6–8 in Little Rock.
A total of 13 Viola students attended the conference with adviser Kevin Thrasher and Mrs. Regina Snelgroes. During the event, students competed in person in a variety of business and career-related contests and had the opportunity to meet and interact with FBLA members from schools across Arkansas.
Viola FBLA was awarded the Hollis and Kitty Guy Gold Seal Chapter Award of Merit for the second consecutive year, an honor that recognizes excellence in chapter leadership, service, and participation.
The chapter also had four students qualify for the FBLA National Leadership Conference, which will be held in San Antonio, Texas, from June 29 through July 2, 2026.
Students qualifying for nationals were:
Meredith Deane — 1st place in Securities and Investments
Norman Huihui — 3rd place in Technology Support and Services
Aaysha Trueman — 3rd place in Website Coding and Development
Joey Harber — 4th place in Computer Applications
In addition to the conference events and competitions, the group also took time to celebrate its accomplishments with a meal at Texas Roadhouse on Tuesday evening.
“This conference was a great experience for our students and a reminder of how much hard work they have put in throughout the year,” said adviser Kevin Thrasher. “We are very proud of all 13 students who represented Viola so well, and we are excited to see some of our students advance to the national level.”
As the chapter prepares for the National Leadership Conference this summer, Viola FBLA is also seeking financial support to help cover travel and related expenses. Community members, businesses, and organizations interested in supporting the students’ trip to San Antonio are encouraged to contact Viola Schools or Kevin Thrasher.
Viola FBLA’s strong showing at the state conference continues the chapter’s tradition of success and reflects the dedication of its students, advisers, and supporters.
