MISSION — A group of three Nixyáawii Community School (NCS) students headed off to the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Business Leadership State Conference, decked in new uniforms funded by a $5,000 grant from Cayuse Holdings.

NCS sophomore Broderick Kenney and seniors Nevaeh Moore and Ryan Titus McCoy, state competitors for the Oregon FBLA State Business Leadership Conference, gathered in the NCS gymnasium on April 8 for a send-off from classmates as they prepared to leave for Eugene the following morning.

As part of the send-off, representatives from Cayuse Holdings spoke to students and announced the company’s contribution to the FBLA team, covering costs for travel and providing uniforms.

NCS Teacher and FBLA advisor Christina Thomas said that in an environment where suits and business attire were the standard, the students felt more confident and empowered. She also noted that one student said they never would have seen themselves in professional business wear during their high school years if it weren’t for the FBLA and its standards.

“We wanted to come today and be a part of the send-off for the FBLA students and present the giant check,” Cayuse Native Solutions Executive Managing Director Debra Croswell said.

Croswell said that Cayuse Holdings was interested in supporting the FBLA, hoping the students would utilize the business leadership skills through work at Cayuse Holdings in the future.

“Our CEO, Randy Willis, heard about what I was trying to do, and said, ‘Well, maybe we could just donate some money to their chapter to help them get going and buy what they need,’” Croswell said.

Cayuse Holding Board Member Leo Stewart also spoke to the students, urging them to pursue college educations and hone their business skills.

Stewart recounted the 27 years he spent working for Pacific Northwest Bell Company as a lineman and said his employers had wanted to promote him, but he didn’t have the college education the position required.

“Get your education and become a leader, don’t shy away from it,” Stewart said to the students. “Become a leader — the opportunity’s there, take advantage of it.”

After receiving the check from Cayuse Holdings, Moore, the NCS FBLA Chapter president, was appreciative of the funding on her team’s behalf.

“Thank you all for giving us this opportunity to get these clothes, this attire, so that we could look professional. Thank you so much. I appreciate it, we appreciate it,” Moore said.

Stewart told the students at the send-off that leadership can serve as a pathway to any venture they feel interested in.

The three state-bound FBLA students — Moore, Kenney and McCoy — traveled to Portland with Thomas as their advisor on April 9. Kenney focused on business law and journalism, Moore focused on agribusiness and McCoy competed in personal finance and economics.

All three students, each in their chosen fields, took part in objective tests in the relevant subjects. The tests consisted of 100 multiple-choice questions with a 50-minute time limit.

Each test covers key knowledge areas and objectives for each field. For example, key fields within the agribusiness category, in which Moore competed, included health, safety and environmental management, management analysis and decision making, marketing, economics and other related areas.

While the three NCS students competing in the FBLA competition took individual objective testing, the event also offered other testing opportunities, including presentations, role plays and chapter-based events.

Thomas said the chapter was recognized as the Champion Chapter at the conference and that members were proud to accept a certificate honoring the achievement. The accolade highlights the commitment, service, leadership and core values of the FBLA in the chapter, she noted.

Of the competing students, Kenney, a first-year competitor, placed in two events, finishing sixth in journalism, which challenges members to demonstrate knowledge in journalistic principles, media ethics and the business of news. He also finished 10th in business law, which focuses on the understanding of the legal system and its impact on business operations.

“Despite being newcomers to the event, the students navigated the high-pressure environment with grace and ambition,” Thomas said. “The experience was so transformative that their primary regret was a simple one: not joining sooner.”