Knoch sophomore wins national award
JEFFERSON TWP — When Jordan Luntz joined the Future Business Leaders of America Club in sixth grade, she never dreamed it could lead her to be national recognized.
The Knoch High School sophomore went to the National FBLA Conference in California over the summer and won first place in her competition, Public Speaking I. She competed with about 75 others from all over the country.
“I had the best week of my life in California,” said Luntz, 16, of Saxonburg. “Never did I expect to win.”
Her four-minute speech about how FBLA instills confidence won first place at regional and state competitions before winning the national award. She also explained how business goes beyond the stereotype of a man in a briefcase sitting at a cubicle.
“Business it so much more than that,” she said. “Business is everywhere we look.”
She said her award wouldn’t have been possible without the support of her adviser, Nicole Slomer, and of recent Knoch graduate Josh Burd, who had also competed in a national FBLA competition.
Luntz said Slomer convinced her last year to try public speaking because she participates in theater.
“I thought she’d be a natural at that and she was,” said Slomer, who’s been an FBLA adviser for five years.
In the past four years, at least one student at Knoch has gone on to national competitions, but Luntz was the first one to finish in the top 10, let alone win.
This year, more students have considered joining FBLA than in the past, and Slomer thinks it might be because of Luntz’s success. There were 20 members last year, and there were about 30 members at the initial meeting this year.
“She’s really sparked the interest, I would say,” Slomer added. “Once the kids find out what you can do, they’re interested and it helps.”
And Burd, who was valedictorian in Knoch’s Class of 2013, is one of Luntz’s best friends.
“I give him the credit for me winning,” she said. “He’s definitely my role model.”
While he couldn’t help with her speech, he gave her pointers and suggestions about it.
They also talked about eye contact, posture and being sure to shake everyone’s hand.
Recent Knoch graduate Kallie Simpson also competed in the national competition this summer in accounting.
In addition to FBLA, Luntz is involved with student clubs, including student council, class cabinet and Youth and Government Club. She’s also in Speech and Debate, Spanish Club, Chess Club and Chemistry Club. She’s been involved in community theater at Butler County Community College for years and participated in her first musical this past spring at the high school.
But FBLA is high up on her list.
“I never thought FBLA would be this important to me,” she said.
