Angila Golik wasn’t surprised to find she’d been nominated as the state FBLA Adviser of the year. Once her students filled out the application, they came to her for help in figuring out how to submit it.
“They weren’t very good at keeping it secret,” she said with a laugh.
Then at the state conference last week in Las Vegas, she listened as the winners were called out for the different regions. The winner from the northern region was announced, and it wasn’t her.
“I just figured I hadn’t gotten it,” she said. “Then about five minutes later, they recognized the overall winner for the whole state.
“My name appeared on the Jumbotron. It was really cool.”
Golik, who has taught government at Carson High School for 10 years, first chaperoned a Future Business Leaders of America five years ago as a favor to her friend and business teacher Betty Foerster, who was the adviser at the time.
“I was just amazed at what the kids were doing,” she said. “They were building websites, public speaking, practicing business skills. They were learning very worthwhile skills that are going to take them far in this life.”
When Foerster retired two years ago, the program was in danger of disappearing. So Golik took over as the adviser, bringing her typical enthusiasm and spirit to the position.
“We’re a very active club,” she said. “One of the most active at the high school.”
That’s why, she said, she was somewhat shocked to realize her students were nominating her for the award.
“I have high expectations of my students,” she said. “And you never really know if they appreciate that.”
Golik will be recognized at the National FBLA Convention in Chicago on June 28 through July 2. She will be taking more than a dozen students, including first-place winners Sadie Share, freshman; Hannah Golik, freshman; and Margaret Duvall, senior.
Golik said they are trying to raise money to go to the national convention. Anyone interested in donating should email her at agolik@carson.k12.nv.us.
She said she will continue expecting the most from her students.
“At the end of the day, I push them because I know what they can do,” she said. “While it’s not always easy they are proud of themselves for the work they put into it.”
Teri Vance is a journalist, freelance writer and native Nevadan. Contact her with column ideas at terivance@rocketmail.com.
