Middle and high school students from across the state of Kansas had various opportunities to put their academic, technical, and employability skills to the test at seven national and international CTSO conferences this past spring and summer.  

As members of Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs), Kansas Career and Technical Education (CTE) students have the opportunity to showcase their projects, presentations, and competitive events on a national stage. The work students are showcasing at these events integrates technical, academic, and employability skills applied in real world and career contexts.   

CTSO members’ work is intracurricular to the coursework in their CTE Pathways and relates directly to their individual plan of study IPS). Student members traveled to places like Orlando, Anaheim, Houston, Seattle, and Atlanta to showcase what they have learned and community service they provided in their schools and communities.   

The following are the Kansas CTSOs’ achievements at the national level this past spring and summer.  

 Business Professionals of America (BPA), National Leadership Conference, May 2024, Chicago, Illinois  

• Three (3) Kansas members placed first in the nation
• One (1) Kansas member placed second in the nation
• Six (6) Kansas members placed third in the nation
• 46 Kansas members placed in the top ten in the nation  

DECA, International Career Development Conference, April 2024, Anaheim, California 

Kansas members from Blue Valley Northwest High School, Blue Valley High School, and Leavenworth High School were national finalists in the start-up business plan, hospitality and tourism professional selling, and student-based enterprise events. 

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), National Leadership Conference, June 2024, Orlando, Florida  

• A Kansas member from Wellsville High School was elected as the National  
• Mountain-Plains regional vice president.  
• Members from Blue Valley North High School earned 1st in the nation in the Financial Statement Analysis event.  
• A member from Wellsville High School earned 1st in the nation in the Job Interview event.  
• A member from Olathe South High School earned 1st in the nation in the Marketing event.  
• A member from Andover High School earned 2nd in the nation in the Intro to Public Speaking event. 
• A member from St. Paul High School earned 3rd in the nation in the Accounting II event.  
• A member from Centralia High School earned 6th in the nation in the Agribusiness event.  
• Members from Girard High School earned 6th in the nation in the Intro to Social Media Strategies event.  
• A member from Andover High School earned 7th in the nation in the Public Policy and Advocacy event.  
• A member from Seaman High School earned 9th in the nation in the Economics event.  
• Members from Olathe South High School earned 10th in the nation in the Hospitality & Event Management event.  
• Marysville High School ranked 10th, and Wellsville High School ranked 6th in the nation in the Local Annual Business Report. 

Family, Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), National Leadership Conference, July 2024, Seattle, Washington  

• A student from Victoria High School was elected to the national executive council as the national vice president of development for the 2024-25 school year.  
• Campus High School was the national runner up for their Career Connections National Program Project.  
• Tonganoxie Middle School was the national first place winner for their Stand UP National Program Project.  
• Fredonia Middle School was the national first place winner for their Families First National Program Project.  
• Smith Center Jr/Sr High School and Fredonia Jr/Sr High School were national winners in Rural Teen Road Safety Assessment Program.  
• 310 total attendees from Kansas, representing 117 entries in FCCLA competitive events. Kansas members earned 53 gold medals, 51 silver medals, and seven (7) bronze medals. 
• Of 117 entries, 50 ranked in the top 10 nationally, with five entries earning 1st in the nation, one from postsecondary, five entries earning 2nd in the nation, and five entries earning 3rd in the nation. 
• Members ranking first in the nation come from the following schools: 
• Mission Valley High School in the Career Investigation event  
• Fredonia Middle School in the Focus on Children event  
• Fredonia High School in the Promote and Publicize FCCLA event  
• Caney Valley Middle School in the Sustainability Challenge event  

FFA, National Convention and Expo, October 2023, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2023-24 results 

• 195 members from Kansas received more than $238,950 in scholarships from the National FFA Organization and Kansas FFA Association for academics, success in career development events, the opportunity to attend state and national leadership events, and support of their supervised agricultural experience work-based learning programs throughout the 2023-2024 school year.  
• 332 members were awarded the State FFA Degree at the 96th State FFA convention. The State FFA Degree is the highest degree the State FFA Association can bestow on a member. This degree is awarded annually to those members who have met the minimum qualifications set forth by the Kansas FFA Association and National FFA Organization through their involvement in eight or more activities above the chapter level, maintaining their supervised agricultural experience for 24 months, and developing workplace skills.  

HOSA, Future Health Professionals, International Leadership Conference, June 2024, Houston, Texas   

• A recent Kansas graduate was inducted into the HOSA Hall of Fame.  
• 200 Kansas members competed. 
• Members from Manhattan, Blue Valley, and Great Bend all placed in the top 10 in the nation in events like Medical Innovation, Emotional Well-being Challenge, Medical Assisting, and Phlebotomy.     

SkillsUSA, National Leadership and Skills Championships Conference, June 2024, Atlanta, Georgia 

Eighty Kansas members competed in skilled trades and leadership competitions. Of these members, 29 students received Skill Point Certificates, 19 students were awarded medallions (top 3 in the nation) and 17 students placed in the top 10 in the nation.  

Technology Student Association (TSA), National TSA Conference, June 2024, Orlando, Florida 

A Basehor-Linwood High School member was elected as the national president. There were five top 10 in the nation placements in events like CAD architecture, coding, and system control technician. The top 10 placing students represented Olathe East High School, Basehor Middle School, Parsons High School, and Junction City High School. 
 

For more information, contact Natalie Clark, assistant director of Career, Standards & Assessment Services, at ndclark@ksde.org or (785) 296-4351.