Not long after his graduation from the school, Alex Kirch represented Grand Junction High School one last time on a national stage this summer -- and earned national honors in the process.
At the 2025 FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California, in late June and early July, Kirch advanced to the national stage in the Business Achievement Awards (BAA) Capstone event.
Kirch's performance placed him in the top 12 in the nation in the category. The conference in total was attended by more than 16,000 students from all 50 states, as well as delegations from Canada, Puerto Rico and China.
Kirch was one of 10 Mesa County Valley School District 51 students who qualified for the national competition.
The BAA Capstone is the FBLA's highest level in the Business Achievement Awards program, requiring students to demonstrate mastery in leadership, business ethics, communication and career development.
"Alex's achievement is the result of his hard work, perseverance, and passion for business leadership," said Suzanne Dunlap, Grand Junction High School's FBLA advisor, in a statement from District 51. "Earning a spot on the national stage is a rare honor, and we could not be more proud."
Kirch now attends Colorado Mesa University.