Award first in history of program
Ware County High School made history this summer as five students participated in the 2026 Future Business Leaders of America National Leadership Conference, bringing home the chapter's first national championship and an additional Top 10.
Matthew Davis, Kevin Lin and Juan “JV” Manabat, 2026 WCHS graduates, were named National Champions in Local Chapter Annual Business Report. Santiago Cochon and Maleah Malabanan earned eighth in Sales Presentation.
Manabat, Davis and Lin competed in an event requiring teams to document an entire year of chapter leadership, membership growth, service, financial management and activities in advance of presenting and defending their work before a panel of judges.
The trio began preparing months in advance after narrowly missing nationals in 2025.
“We made sure every part of our report and presentation was polished to perfection,” Davis said.
That preparation resulted in a moment the students and chapter will not soon forget.
“Hearing our small rural Georgia chapter announced as National Champions is a moment I'll never forget,” Lin said.
For Manabat, the championship completed an FBLA journey that nearly ended during his freshman year. After finishing last in his first competition, he planned to quit until another student encouraged him to give FBLA one more chance. He went on to become a local chapter officer, region officer, and state officer representing more than 23,000 members, and ultimately a National Champion.
“If I had quit after my freshman year, none of this would've happened,' Manabat said.”That's why I'll always believe in giving people the same chance someone once gave me.”
Ware County's second team competed in an event that challenges students to demonstrate professional sales and communication skills in a realistic business scenario.
Cochon and Malabanan advanced through preliminary competition to the Top 16 out of 132 teams before finishing eighth.
For Cochon, a two-time national competitor, advancing to finals was especially meaningful after competing at nationals in 2025 without getting beyond preliminary judging.
“Going through a tworound process and making it into the final 16 of 132 teams from across the nation was incredibly rewarding,' Cochon said. 'I loved showing what I spent months preparing for.”
Malabanan competed at her first National Leadership Conference as a freshman and said the experience taught her perseverance.
'Even though we messed up during our preliminary round, we kept going,' she said. “That allowed us to make finals, which then led us to become Top 10. I'm proud to say I represented Georgia and Ware County.”
The national recognition extended beyond competition. Ware County FBLA also earned High School Champion Chapter Gold recognition, and Manabat, Davis and Lin completed FBLA's Business Achievement Awards Capstone level.
The accomplishments culminated another successful year for Ware County FBLA.
The chapter grew to 77 members, the largest in Georgia Region 2. Students earned 38 Top 10 finishes at the Region Leadership Conference, with 30 competitors qualifying for the state competition.
For advisor Lauren Carter, the accomplishments represent much more than awards.
“I’m incredibly proud of what these students accomplished, but I’m even more proud of who they have become through FBLA,” Carter said. “FBLA is a student-led organization, and watching students grow in confidence, leadership, perseverance and service is the greatest reward.”
Carter also credited the families, school system and community for continued chapter support.
“Our students are fortunate to have an incredible community behind them,' she said.
The program is supported by a host of business partners and sponsors. Among them are: Memorial Satilla Health, Helping Hands Behavioral Solutions, The Law Office of Edward F. Smith, Lee Hardware, Waycross Bank and Trust, Stacey Jones State Farm, Coastal Pines Technical College, Georgia Power, Hines Capital, The Law Offices of Thomas & Johnson, PrimeSouth Bank, Sid Halstead State Farm, Paint & Tile, PHD Salon, Thomas & Settle, Yarbrough’s Office Supply, Security Blanket, Eve’s Boutique, Ganas, Taylor Pools, Crossway Realty and Honey Sanders Company.
“They’re investing in young people and helping provide opportunities that can change lives,” the advisor said.
Comments