Best of the West competition brings high school students to CSC

Image of Alliance High School students standing on a stage with a CSC backdrop holding the first place award.
Best of the West Business Competition participants from the first place overall team, Alliance High School, pose in the ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç State College Student Center Ballroom on Jan. 29, 2025. From left, Dean of the School of Business, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences Dr. Ryan Morgan, Associate Professor Dr. Gary Dusek, Alliance High School participants, and ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç State College President Dr. Ron K. Patterson. (Photo by Sydney Brown/ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç State College)

Published:

CHADRON – High school students from western Nebraska participated in the Eighth Annual Best of the West Competition on Jan. 29 at ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç State College. The contest follows Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) rules and is hosted to prepare contestants for the FBLA State Leadership Conference in Kearney, Nebraska, in April.

The event was co-sponsored by CSC and the Nebraska Council of Economic Education (NCEE).

“The Best of the West Invitational is a premier event for the Nebraska Council. Dr. (Gary) Dusek runs an incredible event that shows students and teachers the respect and professionalism they deserve. We are so happy to have this incredible relationship in the Western part of the state. Institutions like ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç State College are vital to having a network that truly touches every part of the good life,” said Matt Pierson, Associate Director of the Nebraska Council on Economic Education.  

Dusek, an Associate Professor of Business and Department Chair, created the competition with the NCEE and administers the event on campus. He said he was appreciative to all the volunteers and CSC employees who helped with the event.

Photos of the winning contestants can be found

Overall Team Winners

1st - Alliance High School – 88 points

2nd – ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç High School – 60 points

3rd – Sidney High School – 56 points

 

Individual Placings

Accounting

1st – Emily McCune – Alliance High School

2nd – Cody Penaluna – Hemingford High School

3rd – Tobin Rust – ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç High School

4th – Faith Frye – Sidney High School

5th – Asher Saka – Alliance High School

 

Business Calculations

1st – Emily McCune – Alliance High School

2nd – Billy Hy – ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç High School

3rd – Cody Penaluna – Hemingford High School

4th – Chelsea Stephens – ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç High School

5th – Ryan Ragsdale – Hemingford High School

 

Business Communications

1st – Chili Potmesil – Alliance High School

2nd – Kinzie Bridge – Alliance High School

3rd – Lillian Dorshorst – Hay Springs High School

4th – Jace Paopao – ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç High School

5th – Leighton Reagle – Valentine High School

 

Economics

1st – Thomas Smith – ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç High School

2nd – Brian Roland – Hemingford High School

3rd – Cody Galles – Hemingford High School

4th – Noel Onate – Sidney High School

5th – Aiden Vinton – ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç High School

 

Introduction to Business

1st – Dominic Beebout – Valentine High School

2nd – Dan Grunig – Sidney High School

3rd – Barrett Wiegand – Sidney High School

4th – Matthew Sorenson – ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç High School

5th – Jacob Dorshorst – Hay Springs High School

 

Introduction to FBLA

1st – Addison Belford – Alliance High School

2nd – Jacob Dorshorst – Hay Springs High School

3rd – Amelia Wade – Alliance High School

4th – Santos Betancud – Alliance High School

5th – Braylon Branson – ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç High School

 

Introduction to Financial Mathematics

1st – Barrett Wiegand – Sidney High School

2nd – Matthew Sorenson – ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç High School

3rd – Leighton Reagle – Valentine High School

4th – Dominic Beebout – Valentine High School

5th – Madelyn Kennedy – Sidney High School

 

Marketing

1st – Henry Hoff – Alliance High School

2nd – Chili Potmesil – Alliance High School

3rd – Noel Onate – Sidney High School

4th – Robert Stevens – Sidney High School

5th – Thomas Smith – ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç High School

 

Personal Finance

1st – Kinzie Bridge – Alliance High School

2nd – Lillian Dorshorst – Hay Springs High School

3rd – Gavin Bell – Hemingford High School

4th – Christen Larson – Valentine High School

5th – Chelsea Stephens – ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç High School

 

Job Interview

1st – Faith Frye – Sidney High School

2nd – Talon Jelinek – ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç High School

3rd – Gavin Bell – Hemingford High School

-McAye Fegler

Category: Business, Campus News