COVID-19 has shut schools down for the remainder of the 2019-20 campaign, but it hasn’t halted academic competitions, which can still be held virtually.

Palmerton Area High School recently saw students take top 10 finishes in eight different categories during state Future Business Leaders of America event.

Top four finishers, of whom Palmerton had four, will move on to the national competition.

“Our FBLA chapter is really on the rise,” co-adviser Kerry Palumbo said this week. “We’ve seen an increase from 88 members last year to 111 members this year. We’re really proud of that and I think it shows the commitment of our students.”

Palmerton’s high participation earned them Market Share status for the first time with 24% of its student body claiming FBLA membership. It was also named a William Seldon Outstanding Chapter Award winner for the seventh consecutive year.

“Our leadership team, particularly our seniors, really made an effort to recruit one of our largest freshman groups this year,” Palumbo said. “It speaks a lot toward the kids and their commitment to bettering themselves and getting that leadership experience.”

Students were able to participate in the state competition, which normally would have been held in Hershey in April, virtually.

Chris Walkowiak earned first place in Introduction to Information Technology.

“That is not an easy test,” Palumbo said of the category. “Last year as a freshman, Chris had two top 10 finishes. He has a really bright future.”

Ella Cronk will join Walkowiak in the national competition after finishing third in Computer Game and Simulation Programming. Cronk developed a video game along the lines of Donkey Kong where an individual in a business suit has to achieve different levels. The game is based on FBLA’s Business Achievement Awards.

“Ella put in a lot of time working on the programming herself,” Palumbo said. “Now she has a chance to revise it a bit and resubmit it for nationals.”

Palmerton’s other automatic national qualifiers were Gina Laviolette in Spreadsheet Applications and Carissa Fallon in Computer Applications.

“I have a really good feeling we’re going to do great things at nationals,” Palumbo said.

The national event was slated to be held in Salt Lake City, but will also take place virtually.

The chapter has raised enough money to cover the $65 registration for the students who qualified through the state event.

Other top 10 finishers at states included the Banking and Financial Systems team of Dylan Bollinger, Madix Marlatt and Jarrett Silvius; Logan Kresge in Database Design and Applications; Elizabeth Frey and Emma Martinez in Introduction to Business; Thomas Chandler, Joshua Long and Ethan Seipel in Network Design; and Cailey Sagastume in Spreadsheet Applications.