Future Leaders: Joel Barlow Student, FBLA President Wins Big In Competition

REDDING, CT — A Joel Barlow High School student was recently awarded for her involvement in the school's Future Business Leaders of America Club.

Patch and T-Mobile are teaming up to showcase future leaders in Connecticut and across the nation.

According to Mario Almeida, the school's assistant superintendent and head of school, three students and the school's business teacher, Jose Gutierrez, recently achieved a third place finish out of twelve teams in the "Introduction to Social Media Strategy" category of their very first state competition.

The competition was hosted by Southern Connecticut State University's School of Business and included over 300 students, according to Almeida.

The following future leader information was obtained by Patch from Joel Barlow High School:

Name: Kimaya Sajit

Age: 16

Class: Sophomore

Hometown: Redding

Leadership qualities, position of leadership:

Kimaya is the president of our FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America). She identifies her leadership qualities as being persistent, strong-minded, and focused on achieving both personal and team goals. As president, she consistently demonstrates initiative, a strong sense of responsibility, and the ability to inspire others to perform at their best.

Future goals:

Kimaya’s dream job is to be a surgeon.

In what ways does this student stand out among their talented peers?

Kimaya stands out among her talented peers due to her exceptional drive, maturity, and ability to lead with both confidence and empathy. While many students are hardworking, Kimaya goes beyond expectations by consistently taking initiative, thinking strategically, and motivating others around her. She balances academic excellence with real-world leadership experience, all while maintaining a grounded and approachable personality.

Quote from student on what it takes to be a great leader:

"Leaders don't always have a plan, but they keep going, stay positive, and help others do the same."