Rockwood Students Earn Top Prizes at Future Business Leaders of America National Leadership Conference

A total of six students from Lafayette and Marquette high schools earned top-10 finishes at the 2024 Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference.

The team of Marquette students Dhruv Bhosekar and Satvik Seetharaman earned eighth place in Computer Game and Simulation Programming, Marquette's Apurva Ganti earned ninth in Agribusiness, and the Lafayette team of Pardhu Konakandla, Vivek Maddineni and Timothy Zheng placed 10th in Mobile Application Development.

The event, held in Orlando, Florida, from June 24 to July 2, attracted more than 18,000 middle school, high school and college students, educators and volunteers from across the country, providing education, competition and networking opportunities centered on business.

Rockwood's winners were among only 25 groups and individuals from the state of Missouri to earn top-10 finishes at the national conference. More than 12,000 students from nearly 2,100 schools in 43 U.S. states and territories and two countries competed in more than 100 business-related events for cash prizes totaling more than $120,000. Students also had the opportunity to engage in more than 200 learning workshops and meet with representatives from more than 100 colleges, universities and employers.

More than 20 Rockwood students traveled to the national conference after qualifying in May.

Congratulations to these outstanding Rockwood students!

Drhuv Bhosekar and Satvik Seetharaman, Marquette, 8th, Computer Game and Simulation Programming

Apurva Ganti, Marquette, 9th, Agribusiness

Pardhu Konakandla, Vivek Maddineni and Timothy Zheng, Lafayette, 10th, Mobile Application Development