Imbler High junior elected Ore. student president of FBLA

Imbler High School junior Jaden Bales is a young man of many interests and talents.

Bales is a member of IHS’s wrestling and football teams, a 4-H ambassador, an honor student, a Future Business Leaders of American state placer and much more. He can even speak a little Mongolian.

Bales seemingly does almost everything but write shorthand.

But the inventor of a type of shorthand, Hamden Forkner, would be proud of Bales. Forkner is recognized as the founder of FBLA, a seven-decade-old organization in which Bales is a rising star.

Bales was elected Oregon student president of FBLA at the organization’s recent annual convention. He will never forget how he felt after he learned he was elected.

“It was the most exciting, intense moment of my life,’’ Bales said.

The IHS junior’s term is now starting and will run through next April. He has been an FBLA member for much of his high school career. Bales recently teamed with IHS junior Nic Allstott to place second in marketing at the state FBLA convention in Portland.

Bales credits FBLA with having a positive influence on his life and he wants others to learn of its value.

“It helps you develop leadership skills in a real world setting,’’ Bales said.

The IHS junior is succeeding Union High School senior Taylor Sarman as state FBLA president. Sarman is still the national FBLA president, a position he will hold through June.

One of Bales’ goals is to get more people excited about FBLA by helping its energy to continue to increase. He credits Sarman with doing this several years ago by starting the statewide Service in Sync program.

Through it, all FBLA chapters do community service projects on the same day every year. Sarman succeeded in making Service in Sync a national FBLA program earlier this year.

Bales was elected state FBLA president after a campaign speech he gave at the state FBLA conference. In the speech, Bales spoke of his credentials and provided words of inspiration.

“The only difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little bit of extra. That little bit of extra to achieve your dreams. That little bit of extra to take that next step and reach your goals. That little bit of extra to become the best business leader that you can be. And all it takes to harness this little bit of extra is merely hard work, dedication and confidence.”

IHS business teacher and FBLA advisor Jennifer Teeter said it is a greater challenge for students from a small school like Imbler to serve as state FBLA president.

She explained that students from small schools usually find themselves involved in a wider range of school-related activities than those from larger schools.

Bales, who has been state FBLA president for two weeks, knows that the next year will be a hectic one, especially because he will not be cutting back his involvement in school activities very much.

“I am learning some pretty valuable time management skills,” Bales said.

Activities Bales is involved in outside of FBLA and school include 4-H.

Last year, Bales was one of several youths in the western states selected to spend a month in Mongolia as part of a 4-H ambassador program.

Bales, who learned a little Mongolian during the trip, said the experience was tremendously enlightening. He was struck by the difficult living conditions many people in Mongolia have to endure.

“I learned that just being born in America, you are one of the richest people in the world,” Bales said.

Bales has been in FBLA since his freshman year.

“I have seen him make tremendous growth,” Teeter said “He has taken on more and more responsibilities … He is a good role model.”

Teeter noted that she is impressed with how hard Bales works to reach out to younger students in FBLA.

In the sports arena, Bales won the District 4 wrestling title at 132 pounds in February. IHS wresting coach Doug Hislop said Bales is a tremendous asset to his program and not just because of his skills as an athlete.

“If you need something done he’s a go-to kid,” said Hislop, who is also superintendent of the Imbler School District.

Hislop said Bales is the type of leader who does things not to promote himself but instead to elevate others

“He makes everyone else around him look great.”

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