Beth Wilson, the current and longtime FBLA adviser at Girard High School, was awarded Adviser of the Year at the 2026 Kansas State Leadership Conference, a well-deserved honor for someone who has played a big role in the success of her program. Over her 18 years in FBLA, Wilson has helped build confident, driven students while creating a chapter focused on growth, leadership, and making a difference.

“Hearing my name be called to the stage as Adviser of the Year was a wonderful surprise,” Wilson shared. “As I was standing up on the stage with Ms. Lindell and my son, I remembered last year when Lisa Beye was on stage receiving the award and how I thought, ‘Yes, so deserving!’ I had witnessed her get-things-done abilities and how she had developed high-achieving, confident students that were going to really be doing some amazing things with their lives. I hope that is what I am doing for my chapter members and the students in my classroom.”

That care for students is what keeps Wilson going each day. She says a lot of her energy comes from the students she works with. “The energy of teenagers fuels me. I learn so much from them, whether it be guidance to understand the language of knowing what cap, rizz, drip, fit, and slaps mean in their Gen Z world or them showing me how to maneuver technology after a software update. They keep life lively, and I love it!”

Wilson believes in always giving her best to her students and knowing when it is time to step aside if she cannot. “If ever I lose the desire or grow too tired of hoping to make a positive difference in their lives, please let me realize that it is time to retire. Our next generation of leaders deserves us at our best.” Her goal in FBLA is simple and clear. “My goal in FBLA is to work and encourage our chapter leaders and members to put in the effort to make our organization something we can all be proud of, by being the catalyst to make things better in the lives of our members, our school, and our community.”

Wilson also shared her appreciation for the people who have supported her along the way. “Connie Lindell and Dawn Rottinghaus have both been an amazing support system and role models of giving your best to Kansas FBLA. I am grateful to the FBLA advisers that have mentored me in my 18 years with this organization and I am honored to be on the list of Kansas FBLA Adviser of the Year with so many truly amazing counselors for their students.”

You can often find Beth with a bright smile, lifting others up with her positivity and encouragement. She is always putting others before herself, making sure her students feel supported, valued, and confident in what they do. Her willingness to give her time, energy, and care does not go unnoticed, and it creates a space where students feel motivated to grow and succeed. Through her dedication and care for her students, Beth Wilson shows what it means to be a great adviser. She leads by example and continues to make a lasting impact on the students around her.