Dakota State University students brought home several top honors from the 2026 FBLA Collegiate National Leadership Conference, held June 6th through 9th in Las Vegas.
More than 1,200 students from colleges and universities across more than 40 states and territories competed in business, leadership, and career-focused events covering areas like finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, technology, and management.
DSU sent five students and two advisers to the national conference. Casey Olson led the way with a 4th place finish in Business Law and 7th in Organizational Behavior and Leadership. Shelby Mennis earned 7th place in International Business. Other competitors included Tarin Bingham, Sydney Kamin, and Tobey Lee.
The university also received national recognition as a Gold Chapter for the 2025-26 academic year, an honor awarded to chapters that excel in membership growth, leadership development, community service, and overall chapter success.
Individual honors were also presented during the conference. Bingham was named South Dakota FBLA’s Who’s Who recipient, while longtime faculty co-adviser Dr. Daniel Talley was recognized as the state’s Outstanding Local Chapter Adviser after 29 years of service. Madison’s Shelby Mennis was also recognized during the Parade of States as South Dakota FBLA State President.
State Adviser Dr. Brenda Merkel praised the students for representing South Dakota with dedication throughout the year, saying the experience and accomplishments at the national conference will help prepare them for future careers.
