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NOVINGER, MO. -- For the first time in more than a decade, students from Adair County R-1 School District will compete in the National Future Business Leaders of America Leadership Convention. 

Brenna Moots and Matthew Matheney are headed to San Antonio, Texas to compete together as partners in desktop publishing during the convention. The convention takes place June 29 through July 2. Their advisor, Stephanie Somers, will drive them there, and be their chaperone throughout the conference.  

Both Moots and Matheney are seniors at Adair County R-1 and best friends. They said their experience in yearbook has helped them compete in desktop publishing.

The national competition involves making advertisements for an imaginary company and then taking a test on Desktop Publishing; all of the tasks must be completed under a set time constraints. Moots and Matheney said they have already mailed their design for the national competition and will have to wait until the end of the convention to see if they won.

Somers said this is the first time in 13 years that someone from Adair County R-1 has competed in the national convention.

"I think it's an awesome experience for them," said Somers.  "I have taught here at Novinger...this is my 13th year. In that 13 year span, we have not sent to anyone to a national convention so it's real exciting for all of our students to see that even kids from a school of less than 300 students can accomplish that type of accomplishment."

Matheney and Moots said they didn't even place at first in the district competition and then received a call afterwards, stating the tally was incorrect and they had won. Then, at the state competition, they said they only wanted to make the top five. When they learned on stage that they had won first place, Somers said Moots had a "Miss America" moment because she was so astonished that they had won.

"I am overly excited to be competing at nationals. I never even thought of it as a possibility so it's really a cool idea."

Somers said when they returned from the state competition, teachers and students at school congratulated them in hallways as if they had won a state football championship. Matheney said he's proud to not only be representing his family, but also his entire school district and rural Northeast Missouri.

"Oh, it's such an honor. I mean we're representing our school there too. So it's not just Brenna and I. It's everybody that helped us get this far," said Matheney.

The duo is trying to raise $3,000 to fund the trip. They have planned a "Spring Fling" dance for 6th to 12th graders attending Adair County R-1 Schools as a fundraiser. They're also selling suckers. They have already received a  $1,500 donation from the Adair County R-1 School Board, and several other donations from school board members, the Superintendent and the Sunshine Country Store. They said they need about $900 more to fund the trip. 

For more information, contact Stephanie Somers at 660.488.6411 or Somers@Novinger.k12.mo.us