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BPA Competition
One of the main difficulties when entering the workforce is acquiring the specific skills that many professionals need. How does one prepare for such a broad set of requirements? One way is to join The Business Professionals of America (BPA). BPA is the leading Career Technical Student Organization for students going into business management, information technology and office administration — among other careers. It provides opportunities to network and to gain licensing in multiple kinds of software. On March 17-19, 2022, the Idaho State University College of Technology’s BPA team — consisting of six students and an advisor — traveled to Boise, Idaho to compete in the State BPA Leadership Conference and they conquered, with all six qualifying for the National Leadership Convention (NLC) in Dallas, Texas. On May 4, 2022, they boarded a plane to Texas and an unforgettable week culminating in the closing and awards ceremony on May 8, 2022. “BPA has offered me a lot of great opportunities and experiences, but one of my favorites was going to the national competition in Dallas, Texas,” says Abby Cortez, the BPA Club President. “I had so much fun traveling with the group, competing at events and seeing new places. The advisors are also super great and made BPA such a memorable experience!” The first two days of the NLC were busy as events were held in the morning, at noon and in the evening. When they weren’t competing or preparing to compete, the students availed themselves to the attractions of Dallas such as Six Flags and the Rodeo Goat restaurant. This rapid pace continued up to the closing ceremony where the majority of the ISU students were finalists in their respective events. One of the students, RJ Foster, was awarded third place in Human Resource Management and first place in Ethics and Professionalism. “The College of Technology BPA chapter has to be one of the best experiences you can find on campus,” said Foster. “I had the opportunity to be chapter V.P. and then the President. Attending chapter meetings and competing in a business professional environment gave me invaluable experience for the future.” As the event closed and everyone boarded their respective flights home, excitement for the next competition was already starting to brew among the students and advisors. Fundraisers are being planned and students are already hard at work preparing for next year where those involved look forward to more life-changing experiences.
If you are interested in the College of Technology’s BPA chapter, you can contact duanerawlings@isu.edu.
