Penn State Schuylkill students Carter Strouse and Aleandro “AJ” Serrano hold up the awards they received at the Pennsylvania Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference.
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Big things happened at this year’s 53rd annual Pennsylvania Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference, and the Penn State Schuylkill FBLA chapter made its mark with outstanding performances, leadership achievements, and exciting opportunities ahead.
Two standout students, Aleandro “AJ” Serrano and Carter Strouse, earned top honors and qualified for the National Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas, taking place May 31 to June 2.
Success in competition
Strouse, a second-year corporate communication major, captured second place in Business Communication. This marks his second consecutive year qualifying for nationals. For his event, Strouse created a press release for a fictional eco-friendly kitchen appliance company, demonstrating strong communication and branding skills.
“I’m grateful for the opportunities Penn State Schuylkill gives me and my fellow peers, which allow us to attend these highly respected conferences and demonstrate our skills,” Strouse said. “This would not be possible without our great campus and the instructors who support us.”
AJ Serrano, a second-year business management and marketing major with a minor in corporate communication, secured third place in Impromptu Speaking. The competition required him to prepare a speech in just 10 minutes on a surprise business- or FBLA-related topic and deliver it confidently to a panel of judges. This summer marks his first time attending the National Leadership Conference.
“Being able to move on to the next level and compete at the National Leadership Conference has been a goal of mine since I joined the club,” Serrano said.
Elected state president
In an even bigger milestone, Serrano was elected as the 2025–26 state president of the Pennsylvania FBLA Collegiate Executive Board. After serving the past year as executive vice president, he underwent a competitive candidacy process that included a written application, letter of recommendation, resume, campaign speech, and a Q&A session in front of voting delegates from 19 chapters statewide.
In his new role, Serrano will preside over state meetings, coordinate next year’s State Leadership Conference, oversee chapter engagement and recruitment, and serve as the official representative of Pennsylvania FBLA Collegiate.
“It is definitely a large undertaking to hold a presidency position at both the chapter and state level,” Serrano said. “But I believe this is an amazing opportunity to strengthen my time management and leadership skills. I hope that I can continue to lead and inspire others through FBLA and its mission.”
Looking ahead
First-year student Ryleigh Sinko is campaigning for vice president of the Pennsylvania FBLA Collegiate Executive Board, adding to the chapter’s continued momentum and leadership presence at the state level. Beyond competitions and elections, the FBLA experience emphasizes personal growth, leadership development, and professional networking — all of which were on full display at the event.
As the FBLA journey continues to open doors for its members, the achievements of Serrano and Strouse highlight the excellence and ambition thriving at Penn State Schuylkill. All eyes now turn to Dallas this summer, where these two rising stars will represent their chapter, campus and state on the national stage.
Penn State Schuylkill FBLA students and the adviser at the State Leadership Conference. First row: Reighly Sinko, Lisa Robinson, Ava Clauser. Second row: AJ Serrano and Carter Strouse.
Aleandro “AJ” Serrano presenting at the Leadership Conference.
Large group of students that attended the Leadership Conference.
