New York City, NY, USA: Dev Lakhani emerged victorious at the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference in California, outperforming 17,000 students from across the nation.
The Indian-American high school senior secured first place in the journalism category at the FBLA National Leadership Conference, held earlier this year at the Anaheim Convention Centre, California.
Representing Jericho High School, Lakhani excelled over participants from all 50 states in a rigorous 100-question assessment covering news writing, media ethics, interviewing strategies, and publication management.
"Four years ago, I didn’t realise how much FBLA would teach me about storytelling and leadership," Lakhani shared. "This achievement shows that dedication and guidance from the right mentors can help you reach goals you never thought possible."
This national victory represents the peak of Lakhani’s four-year journey with FBLA. In 2024, he placed seventh nationally in the Intro to Business Presentation event alongside teammates Dylan Rateshwar and Kaylin Kim. At the New York State Leadership Conference, he earned five first-place awards in Business Procedures, Presentation, Public Policy, Website Design, and Journalism, accumulating a total of seven medals.
"We are incredibly proud of Dev and everything he has accomplished," stated Michael Goldin, FBLA advisor at Jericho High School.
Lakhani acknowledged advisors Goldin, Nicole Izzo, and Jessica Ruth Rogovitz for creating a supportive and collaborative atmosphere within the Jericho FBLA chapter, which has a strong record of state and national successes. He intends to continue his education in writing, leadership, and business innovation at the collegiate level.
FBLA is a nonprofit organisation with more than 200,000 members, dedicated to preparing students for careers in business, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Its National Leadership Conference is the premier event, featuring competitions judged by business professionals and educators.
This year’s conference drew over 17,000 students, teachers, and exhibitors from across the United States.
