On March 24, 2026, three Pendleton County Middle High School students recently traveled to Huntington, West Virginia, to compete in the West Virginia State Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) conference as they joined many other students from across they the state in a showcase of business knowledge and professional skill. They returned home with remarkable results.
Sophomore Ben Puffenbarger claimed 1st place in Intro to FBLA, earning him the right to represent both Pendleton County Middle High School and the state of West Virginia at the FBLA National Leadership Conference in June 2026. Fellow sophomore Shayne Clutter earned 7th place in Intro to Business Marketing Concepts, while junior Liam Simmons posted a 17th place finish in Personal Finance — both outstanding achievements in a highly competitive field of students from across the state.
Ben's national qualification is a landmark accomplishment, not only for him personally, but for the entire school community. The FBLA chapter at PCMHS is only two years old, making this level of success in such a short time truly extraordinary.
Please congratulate Ben, Shayne, and Liam on their hard work and dedication, and to cheer Ben on as he heads to nationals this summer to compete among the best young business leaders in the country!