Oakland High FBLA asks Hancock County for donations as 18 students head to nationals

Tina Vakley, an advisor with Oakland High School’s Future Business Leaders of America, told the Hancock County Commission on June 11 that the school’s volunteer income tax assistance program, “Numbers to Neighbors,” has returned about $476,000 in tax credits and refunds to local residents and saved the community roughly $93,500 in tax-preparation fees.

Vakley said the program partners with the West Virginia Alliance for Sustainable Families and the IRS and that Oakland High is one of three West Virginia schools running the VITA model. She asked the commission and the public to consider donations to help 18 students who qualified for the national FBLA competition in San Antonio; the cost to send each student is about $1,500, she said.

Shelby Riser, a student competitor, described the program’s workforce and public-speaking training and said the program also provides financial-literacy outreach to middle school students. Vakley said the VITA program both delivers a community service and builds a pipeline of workforce-ready graduates whether students go directly into jobs or pursue higher education.

Commissioners thanked the visitors, said they would reach out to state officials about possible funding assistance, and made the correspondence a matter of record. Vakley asked that donations be sent to Oakland High School.