Small school bests big competition.

Byline: Karen McCowan The Register-Guard

DRAIN - Call them the Biz Whiz Kids.

North Douglas High School students Gavin McFarland and Hannah Harrod are the academic equivalent of the 1937 Bellfountain "Giantkillers." That year, a basketball team from the Benton County high school (enrollment: 27) defeated Portland's Franklin High School (enrollment: 2,100) to capture the state title.

McFarland and Harrod swept first and second place in economics at the Oregon Future Business Leaders of America state competition.

The two seniors from North Douglas (enrollment: 140) bested students from schools as large as Portland's David Douglas High School (enrollment: 2,400).

And they did so even though their school can no longer afford to fund a course in economics because of declining enrollment and tax revenue.

McFarland and Harrod have been able to study the subject only because teacher David Frost has volunteered his time this year, teaching advanced placement economics during what is supposed to be his prep period.

Harrod credited him for their first- and second-place finish last month among 89 students statewide on the written economics test.

"Mr. Frost did a great job teaching us," she said. "I didn't even really have an interest in economics until I took this class."

Frost, in turn, credited the school's FBLA club members and their adviser, Sharon Ruud.

"We have had the best FBLA program in the state for a long time, so I'm not surprised to see the program peak this year with two students going to nationals and another student placing fifth at state," he said. "All the credit should go to Mrs. Ruud and the students who worked and studied so hard."

North Douglas junior Lanelle Gregory placed fifth in state in the FBLA scrapbook competition.

News of the students' success at the state competition was "a very big deal" at the small school, said Harrod, president of the North Douglas FBLA chapter. This is the first time since 1986 that a student from the school has earned the right to compete at the FBLA nationals, scheduled this summer in Denver.

Both Harrod and McFarland would like to attend the weeklong National Leadership Conference, Ruud said. But they must raise more than $1,000 each to cover the cost of the conference, transportation and lodging.

"We're pretty much going to have to fund-raise all of it," Harrod said, noting that both she and McFarland already are working and saving money for college next year.

She plans to study deaf education at George Fox University or North Central College in Minnesota. McFarland plans to study computer science at Oregon Institute of Technology.

HOW TO HELP

A fund has been established at North Douglas High School to send Gavin McFarland and Hannah Harrod to the FBLA National Leadership Conference

Checks payable to: North Douglas FBLA

Address: P.O. Box 488, Drain, OR 97435-0488

More Information: Sharon Ruud, [phone]