SKYCTC FBLA-Collegiate students earn national awards at national leadership conference

SKYCTC student and advisors attended the FBLA-Collegiate National Leadership Conference in Las Vegas. Pictured from left: Josh Martin, Julie Dent, Brenton Lundgrin, Kim Otto, and Dalton Livingston.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Students from Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) earned national awards and received Gold Seal Chapter recognition while competing at the 2026 FBLA-Collegiate National Leadership Conference in Las Vegas.

Three SKYCTC students, accompanied by faculty advisors Kim Otto and Julie Dent, represented the college during the multi-day conference. Our students showcased their knowledge and skills while competing with students from colleges and universities nationwide in business, technology, and leadership events. In addition, they also participated in professional development opportunities, networking sessions, and leadership activities that prepared them for future careers.

"SKYCTC students continue to demonstrate that they can compete and excel on the national stage," said Dr. Michelle Trawick, Chancellor of SKYCTC. "These outstanding achievements reflect their commitment to excellence, the guidance of our dedicated faculty, and the high-quality business education offered at SKYCTC. We are incredibly proud of how they represented our college and Kentucky."

At the conference awards ceremony, SKYCTC students earned national recognition by their placing among the nation's top competitors in several events.

"There were numerous top business students from across the country competing in every event, so earning a top 10 finish at the national level is such an impressive accomplishment," said faculty advisor Kim Otto. "I am very proud of the hard work that our students put into preparing for their competitions throughout this past year."

Leading the way for SKYCTC was Brenton Lundgrin, who earned second place nationally in Foundations of Management. The SKYCTC FBLA-Collegiate chapter earned Gold Seal Chapter recognition, one of the organization's highest chapter honors, recognizing excellence in chapter management, membership engagement, leadership development, and community service.

The FBLA-Collegiate National Leadership Conference brings together outstanding collegiate business students from across the United States to compete in events that test their business knowledge, analytical abilities, communication skills, and leadership potential. Students qualify for the national conference through top performances at their respective state leadership conferences.

"These students represented SKYCTC exceptionally well," said faculty advisor Julie Dent. "Their accomplishments reflect not only their individual dedication and talent, but also the commitment of SKYCTC's Business Division to providing meaningful experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for professional success."

The national awards continue a tradition of excellence for SKYCTC's FBLA-Collegiate chapter, highlighting the college's commitment to preparing students with the leadership, communication, and professional skills needed to succeed in today's business environment.