Mundelein High graduates earn a first in video competition

Submitted by Mundelein High School District 120

Recent Mundelein High School graduates Monika Bowser and Kelly Vander Ploeg earned a first place at the Future Business Leaders of America National Competition held in Atlanta.

Bowser and Vander Ploeg competed in an event called Public Service Announcement, where they developed a 30-second promotional video about the positive impacts of sports. Their video showcased real footage of Mustang sports, along with a commanding voice-over by head football coach Larry Calhoun.

"We made a goal sheet during our freshman year that by the end of our senior year we would be in the top 10 at Nationals," Vander Ploeg said.

The team competed at nationals their sophomore year in a similar event called Digital Video Production, but fell short of placing. That only strengthened their resolve to be number one.

"As the competitors were being called from 10 to one, it was getting narrowed down to us, and it just felt surreal to be the last team standing on the stage,"said Vander Ploeg.

"We just started bawling," said Bowser. "It was an amazing experience."

"To come in first place out of more than 100 of the best competitors is quite an accomplishment," adviser Chris Hoster said. "What a great way for them to end their senior year."

Bowser and Vander Ploeg have been members in FBLA for all four of their high school years. Bowser will study business at the University of Texas at Austin, and Vander Ploeg will study Business and Spanish at Hope College in Michigan.

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