FCCLA and Knowledge Matters are pleased to present the 2024-2025 FCCLA Virtual Business Challenge (VBC). This challenge is open to all FCCLA high school members. The FCCLA Virtual Business Challenge is an online competitive event and consists of two tracks, VBC Personal Finance and VBC Fashion. FCCLA members are eligible to participate in one or both of these tracks. Each track encourages FCCLA members to test their skills within its particular Virtual Business environment – individually or as a team of up to three members.
Click here to view a video on how to register for the FCCLA Virtual Business Challenge:
The Virtual Business Challenge-Personal Finance event encourages FCCLA members to test their financial literacy skills. Participating teams will be making personal finance decisions for a simulated person. The concepts students will be managing include opening bank accounts, paying bills, filing taxes, applying for jobs, enrolling in educational courses, paying for goods, applying for credit cards, determining schedules, budgeting, and more. For each round, teams be ranked based on their based their person’s net worth after running the simulation for two virtual years.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: It has come to our attention that there is a discrepancy with the instructions that we provide within the competition simulation file for this event. The left side text within the simulation file instructs participants to use the name “John” for their character when applying for a job. The name that participants should use when applying for a job is “Kai Walker” which is the name listed on the resume. We apologize for this issue.
The Virtual Business – Fashion Track of the FCCLA VBC encourages FCCLA members to test their skills at managing a simulated fashion business. Participants will conduct trend research, design garments, promote via social media, and more. For each round, teams will be ranked based on their fashion business’ highest cumulative profit after running the simulation for one virtual fashion season.
Awards
First & Second Challenge: (Top eight nationally ranked teams)
- Recognition under the FCCLA area at www.KnowledgeMatters.com
FBLA VBC Final Round (Both Tracks)
National Champions – 1st Place
- $1,000/team
- Recognition under the FCCLA area at www.KnowledgeMatters.com
2nd Place
- $500/team
3rd Place
- $250/team
Recent Competition Winners
Fashion Winners:
First – Aleah T., Marysville High School, OH
Second – Lucy S. and Harper B., Grinnell High School, IA
Third – Amy W., Washington Virtual Academy, WA
Personal Finance Winners:
First – Kathryn L., Round Rock High School, TX
Second – Shon B., Akron High School, CO
Third – Will D, Guntersville High School, AL
Dates & Details
The FCCLA Virtual Business Challenge consists of two competition rounds. Registration begins October 1, 2024. Round One will begin on October 14, 2024 at 10AM EST and will end on November 8, 2024 at 5PM EST. Round Two will begin on February 3, 2025 at 10AM EST and will end on February 28, 2025, at 5PM EST. Teams may participate in one or both rounds. The National Championship Round will be online only (dates to be announced), and will only be open to qualifying teams.
The Challenge will focus upon different concepts found within the simulation. FCCLA members will not be able to control every concept found under the Actions Menu. Teams are only able to manipulate the actions enabled for that specific Challenge. All other concepts will be set adequately and controlled for the teams. Assignments explaining Challenge goals and objectives will be available within the competition files.
The Challenge competition file will only be available from the dates as listed above. During the qualifying rounds, participants may run through the competition files as many times as they wish during the competition period. The competition file is complete once teams have run the file for two virtual years (Personal Finance) or one virtual season (Fashion). At this point, the team’s score will be automatically submitted to the Knowledge Matters’ website.
After uploading a score, teams may visit the ranking’s page in order to see where they rank nationally and by state. Teams may upload as many scores as they wish because Knowledge Matters will always rank teams based upon their best score. At the completion of each challenge, the top nationally ranked teams will receive website recognition. Top teams from each challenge will compete in a final online round. The winning teams of the National Championship Round Challenge will receive National Leadership Conference travel awards of $1000 (1st place), $500 (2nd place) and $250 (3rd place) to attend the National Leadership Conference and participate in the Knowledge Matters exhibit to demonstrate the simulation and assist with simulation demonstrations.
The Challenge will start at 10:00AM EST on the start date for each round. No score submission will be accepted after 5:00PM EST on the last day of the Challenge round. Each file is time and date stamped upon receipt for validation. Files will be automatically scored, ranked and posted under the ranking’s page.
Students who are currently using, or who have previously used one of our online simulations (Accounting, Hotel, Restaurant, Personal Finance, Retailing, Management, or Sports and Entertainment) may use their existing accounts to participate. Students who have not used our online simulations will be given the opportunity to create a new account free of charge.
Rules
ELIGIBILITY: Only affiliated FCCLA members in grades 9-12 are eligible. Students must be a paid, affiliated member prior to the submission of any Virtual Business Challenge file to Knowledge Matters. An FCCLA chapter may have as many teams as it can support according to the team membership rules. All membership questions will be handled by FCCLA. Chapters may participate in the FCCLA Virtual Business Challenge during Round One (October 14-November 8, 2024) and/or Round Two (February 3 – February 28, 2025).
TEAM MEMBERSHIP: Entries may be created by an individual member or by a team, not to exceed three (3) members. A Team Member cannot be on more than one team at a time. No additional team members may be added once a team has registered. All rankings and prizes are based on the team and not the individual. Members are unable to participate in any other National Leadership Conference competitive event (STAR Event or FCCLA/LifeSmarts Knowledge Bowl) if they have placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in the National Championship Round. All rankings and prizes are based on the team and not the individual.
If a Team Member drops off a Team or a Team is to be dissolved, an email from the Team’s FCCLA Adviser acknowledging the removal must be sent to VBCCentral@KnowledgeMatters.com stating the team name and the Team Member(s) to be removed. An acknowledgment from Knowledge Matters confirming the Team Member update will be sent back to the Team’s FCCLA Adviser. If this acknowledgment is not received, it will be the Team’s responsibility to resubmit the request via the Team’s Adviser. Once the acknowledgment is received, the individual is free to register a new team. All maintenance and compliance monitoring of the Teams will be the responsibility of the Team’s FCCLA Adviser. FCCLA chapters may have as many teams as it can support according to the Team Membership rules. Team names must generally adhere to FCCLA’s code of ethics. Team names deemed inappropriate according to National FCCLA will have their team name changed to the name of their local chapter without notice. National FCCLA will have the ultimate authority to resolve Team Membership and name disputes.
CODE OF CONDUCT: Participants agree to compete by the Rules of Competition listed on this page. Participants further agree that all work submitted is work done by the participant or the participant’s registered teammates. Participants understand that any attempt to hack or cheat the simulation is grounds for removal from the competition and possible further actions. The use of external applications, browser extensions or built-in browser tools within our competition simulations is strictly forbidden. If we detect this has occurred, there will be immediate disqualification. Participants agree to refer any questions on what may constitute a cheat to Knowledge Matters for a decision. Inquiries must be submitted through the Knowledge Matters’ support system, and must contain “Official Ruling Requested” within the title of the inquiry.
UPDATE: It has come to our attention that a former competitor may be offering assistance to teams via social media. As a reminder, it is against the rules of this event to accept or pay for assistance from anyone not a member of your team, including former Virtual Business Challenge competitors.
All participants agree to be bound by the following Honor Code: I pledge that all work submitted is that of me or my teammates, solely. I have received no outside help with the challenge. I pledge not to hack or cheat in any way and agree to report others that I am aware of who hack or cheat.
Additionally, because the VBCs are interstate competitions for prize money, participants who hack or cheat may be subject to penalties under federal, state or local cybercrime or anti-hacking laws.
QUALIFIER RULES: The top eight nationally ranked teams from each qualifying round will qualify to compete in the National Championship Round. Teams that qualify during Round One may participate in Round Two, but will not be ranked in the Round Two challenge. If a participant/team qualifiers for the final round within both tracks of the VBC, the participant/team must choose the VBC track in which they would like to participate during the final round.
SCORES: A team’s actual numeric score will not be posted on the rankings page. Bars symbolizing a team’s score will be posted instead. Numeric amounts will not be released during the Challenge rounds. In the event of a tie, the team with the earliest file submission will rank higher, so it is important to get your files ranked early in the Challenge.
Support
Due to the high volume of teams participating in the VBC, all questions regarding the VBC should be submitted via email. Please fill out this form and submit it to Knowledge Matters, Inc. Emails will be answered in the order in which they are received during Knowledge Matters, Inc. business hours which are Mon-Fri from 8:30AM-5:00PM Eastern Time.
Disclaimer
Each team and its members are responsible for having read all the guidelines. National FCCLA and Knowledge Matters, Inc. are not responsible for an entry that is late, lost, misdirected, or not received. Only entries that are received by Knowledge Matters, Inc. will be eligible for scoring and ranking. All technical issues should be directed to our support team as soon as possible for resolution. Because of the wide variation in computer systems, Knowledge Matters, Inc. assumes no responsibility for the performance of its software on participant’s computers. It is the team members’ responsibility to read the Late Breaking News/FAQ’s located on this page for updates.
Contact
Technical Support Questions
Chapter Participation Questions
Christine Hollingsworth, Competitive Events Manager, FCCLA, Inc.
703/476-4900
www.fcclainc.org