MOUNT VERNON – Knox County Career Center (KCCC) students competed in the Business Professionals of America (BPA) state competition in Columbus recently.
KCCC had seven students qualify for nationals and 11 students who placed in the Top 10 in the BPA state competition. The seven national qualifiers from KCCC will compete in the BPA National Leadership Conference in Dallas on May 4-8.
BPA is a career technical student organization that allows students to compete in various competitions in the areas of finance, business administration, management information systems, digital communications and design, management, marketing and communications, and health administration.
The mission of BPA is to develop and empower student leaders to discover their passion and change the world by creating unmatched opportunities in learning, professional growth and service. As a co-curricular organization, BPA has the ability to enhance student participation in professional, civic, service and social endeavors. BPA members participate in these activities to accomplish their goals of self-improvement, leadership development, professionalism, community service, career development, public relations, student cooperation, safety and health.
Tammy Klein, CollegeU-Business program instructor, said, “We are so very proud of the time and effort students gave toward preparing for and competing in their BPA contests. State contests were a wonderful experience, and we are looking forward to Dallas.”
Klein added, “As a former BPA student, I have personally experienced how BPA can change lives by opening eyes and minds to new possibilities.”
Nate Greene, Computer Network Technology program instructor, said, “I am extremely proud of all of our students who qualified for nationals. These students have been studying and preparing for their competitions for several months.”
The following students qualified for the BPA National Leadership Conference (national qualifiers):
- Lydia Burak (CollegeU-Business) – presentation management individual (third place)
- Abigail Kennedy (CollegeU-Business) – legal office procedures (third place)
- Hannah Brooks (CollegeU-Business) – human resource management (third place)
- Dryden Hager (CollegeU-Business) – business law and ethics (fifth place)
- Nathan Lubera (Computer Network Technology) – computer network technology (first place)
- Ethan Temple (Computer Network Technology) – network administration using Cisco (fourth place)
- Logan O’Brien (Computer Network Technology) – server administration using Microsoft (fifth place)
The following students placed in the Top 10 at the BPA state competition:
- Kierstin Cox (CollegeU-Business) – prepared speech
- Joshua Rashley (CollegeU-Business) – fundamental spreadsheet applications
- Robert Swint (Computer Network Technology) – advanced interview skills
- Griffyn Hoenie (Computer Network Technology) – computer network technology
- Blake Ward (Computer Network Technology) – computer security
- Kaden Pealer (Computer Network Technology) – network administration using Cisco
- John Auker (Computer Network Technology) – server administration using Microsoft
- Garry Cooper (Digital Media & Software Development) – digital media production
- Dani Burky, Rachel Troyer and Corrigan Iams (Digital Media & Software Development) – computer animation
- Emma Frazee (Pre-Professional Mentorship) – interview skills
- Holly Sawicki (Pre-Professional Mentorship) – economic research individual
