The city of Surprise, in collaboration with Ottawa University-Arizona, will host the Future Business Leaders of America Region 4 Competition at the shared Surprise Civic Campus on Wednesday, Jan. 17.

The FBLA Regional Competition will welcome 500 high school students from across the West Valley to OUAZ, which is part of the Surprise Civic Campus near City Hall, 16000 N. Civic Center Plaza.

The event offers students a platform to showcase their business acumen, leadership skills and innovative ideas. This annual competition has become a hallmark event for aspiring young leaders.

It will include a welcome from OUAZ President Dennis Tyner and an address from Surprise Mayor Skip Hall.

The city said hosting this competition underscores the groups’ commitment to providing a conducive environment for growth and development, and our dedication to fostering innovation, collaboration and leadership development among youth in the West Valley.

The collaboration between OUAZ, Surprise and various partner organizations extends even further, as several representatives from these groups will serve as volunteer judges.

Their expertise will contribute to the success of the FBLA Regional Competition and provide valuable insight to the participating high school students.

For information about the Future Business Leaders of America Regional Competition and the collaborative efforts between Surprise and OUAZ, contact Surprise Economic Development at econdev@surpriseaz.gov.