Union High sophomore becoming effective regional voice for FBLA

Taylor Sarman

But not too young to make his voice and that of many other young people heard in state capitals across the United States.

Sarman, a Union High School sophomore, is a fast rising FBLA leader, one devoted to making sure state funding for Future Business Leaders of America is maintained by making sure legislators understand its importance.

And just as importantly, he wants his FBLA peers to understand how to connect with legislators.

“There is always that fear among young people of not being able to make a difference. I want everybody to know that they have the ability to make a difference on all issues,’’ Sarman said.

He shared this message in Denver last fall during a workshop he put on at a national FBLA leadership conference. His workshop focused on steps students can take to get legislators to support Future Business Leaders of America. The workshop was attended by students from states where funding for FBLA programs is in jeopardy.

Today Sarman continues to make his voice heard on regional and national FBLA fronts as a member of the FBLA National Treasurer’s Council and the FBLA Western Regional Executive Board. The positions plus his responsibilities as president of UHS’s FBLA chapter are quickly making Sarman a master of time management.

“He is an extremely well organized leader,’’ said UHS teacher Teresa Stratton, the adviser of her school’s FBLA chapter.

Still, Sarman’s ability to juggle many balls at once mystifies Stratton.

“I don’t know how he gets done in 24 hours what he gets done.’’

Sarman is such an effective advocate for his organization that earlier this year he convinced the city of Union to pass a resolution declaring Feb. 8 as FBLA Day.

Efforts he has made on the state level also are bearing fruit. Sarman was part of a campaign last summer that helped save about 75 percent of the state funding in Oregon for FBLA. The campaign gained steam after legislators had proposed cutting all state funding for FBLA.

Sarman also assisted with an effort to get the Legislature to declare Feb. 10 as state FBLA Day. The UHS sophomore emphasizes that he played a minor role in this and the campaign to maintain state funding.

The role Sarman is playing for UHS’s FBLA chapter, though, has never been minor, not from day 1 when he joined it early in his freshman year. He helped UHS’s chapter win the state Class 2A title, the first in its history. UHS felled a giant in the process, beating Elgin, which had won 13 consecutive state Class 2A titles.

Stratton describes Sarman as a leader who knows how to bring out the best in others.

“He wants to make sure everybody feels connected,’’ she said.

Sarman wants to get as many students involved in FBLA as possible.

“I would like all kids to have an experience like this,’’ the UHS sophomore said.

Sarman knew little about FBLA upon entering his freshman year at UHS. Today he can’t imagine a day without FBLA.

“I’m hooked. Now it runs my life.’’