|
|
| Blazing new trails says it all for 2009 |
|
Posted: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 4:18 pm
|
By Connie Budin
Le Center High School Senior
Business Professionals of America are “Blazing New Trails” following the 2009 motto of the year as 47 of Le Center High School’s 61 BPA members qualified to participate in Minnesota’s State Leadership Conference. The LCHS BPA Chapter started back in the 2003-04 school year and has continually grown since. It is a self-supporting organization where each student participates in fundraising activities to raise money for their personal account or for the chapter. Computers and Accounting teacher, John Rostad, is a wonderful advisor for this positive, rewarding, and educational-enhancing organization. By taking part in this program’s outstanding reputation, which can be seen on the walls of Mr. Rostad’s classroom, students can also greatly increase their experiences for college scholarship applications, entrance information, or future job resumes.
Business Professionals of America are “Blazing New Trails” in following the 2009 National Leadership Conference motto for the year. The Business Professionals of America organization, or BPA, has a mission of preparing students for a world wide workforce through leadership, citizenship, academic, and technological skills. This program is the leading student organization in preparing a striving effort in the direction for competitive events, leadership, interaction with businesses, career/job preparation, and workplace competencies.
Students study and prepare for weeks to compete against numerous other schools and students at the Regional competition in hopes of qualifying for state. This was held at South Central Community College in early January. Here, students compete in two required individual events, and are also given the opportunity to participate in open events or join a team event. These competitions are all computer oriented; ranging anywhere from entering data into a Mircosoft Word or Excel document, to creating a website or video. Other popular categories include: banking and finance, accounting, computer animation, graphic design, fundamentals of XHTML, and management teams. All of these topics prove to be a fun and challenging experience for students.
This past weekend, these 47 individuals who qualified for BPA State made their way to Minneapolis to compete against the nine regions who make up Minnesota’s State Leadership Conference. Throughout this three day event, these students competed in the same areas but on a higher level. 16 students placed within the top nine of their individual and team events, and four are qualified to head to Dallas, Texas, this coming May to battle against others at BPA Nationals. These students are: Becky Arntson, Elora Stauff, Matt Traxler, and Cody Bauleke. Becky also qualified in her individual event as well; placing first. Congratulations!
Through BPA, students are “Blazing New Trails” for their future. All that has been said could not have been done if not for the teachers, parents, volunteers, and community that support the growth of Business Professionals America. Students strive for excellence, but it is because of you that this program is a success. Thank you.
|
|
Printer-friendly format
|
Login and voice your opinion!
|
|
|
