Members of this year’s Blue Earth Area’s Business Professionals of America are shown above. They are, front row, left to right, Grace Schavey, Grace Hanson, Sara Wirth, Amelia Greff, Reed Sturtz, McKinley Hanson, Henry Survis. Second row, left to right, Kennadi Hubly, Brooklyn Rosenau, Abbey Lorenz, Emily He, Isabel Vargas, Lola Faulhaber, Alexis Thompson, Jackelyn Martinez, Ava Grant. Third row, left to right, Abigail Greff, Aubrey Woodwick, Rhionna Weerts, Elaena Schiltz, Erin Prescher, Annika Salisbury, Pablo Ozuna, Gracelyn Murphy, Hadleigh Anderson. Fourth row, left to right, Devin Haase, Marcus Eckles, Gage Barker, Tailor Douglas, Sidney Eitzmann, Ruby Allis, Ayla Warmka, Laura Steinhauer, Mia Petersen, Lullianna Frank. Back row, left to right, Carter Rosenau, Jacob Grandgenett, Caden Juba, Kaden Osborn, Sully Dahlberg, Branson Hauskins, Michael Vaske, Gibson Haase, Anna Mwangi, Noah Hanson. Not Pictured: Isaac Anderson, Kyle Blum, Hannah Cartwright, Madelyn Ferguson, Sam Vasquez Garcia, Sophia Hall, Aidan Johnson, Lola Lundquist, Levi Masters, Amelia McNeil, Ellaina Moore, Jacob Murray, Ava Peterson, Taylor Ripley, Amaya Ristau-Mensing, Carol Schrader, Raynelidae Schuster, Katelyn Storbeck.
Blue Earth Area’s Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter continues to be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to doing battle at the Region 3 BPA Conference.
With over 300 students competing from 10 area schools, the BEA BPA chapter qualified 47 of their members to compete at the State Leadership Conference, which will be held in Minneapolis in March.
“This is the largest number of students (60) BEA has ever had compete at the Regionals,” BEA BPA advisor Holly Vogltance shared. “It is also the largest number of State Trip winners we have ever had. All of those students who participated deserve credit for their commitment.”
BEA competes against students from Caledonia, Lake City, Rochester Century, Rochester John Marshall, Rochester Mayo, Stewartville, TCU (Tri-City United), Triton and Waseca in the Region 3 Conference.
“These kids put in incredible amounts of time and effort into learning new skills, creating projects and preparing for their events,” Vogltance added. “This is a huge achievement.”
Students competed individually and/or in teams in a variety of categories where they demonstrated their knowledge and a variety of skills by taking a test, creating a project, giving a speech, or presenting to a judge.
“Of the students advancing to State, several qualified in all three events they were entered in, which is an outstanding accomplishment,” Vogltance commented. “Those were Jacob Grandgenett, Devin Haase, Carol Schrader, Ava Peterson and Carter Rosenau. It was the second year in a row that Carter has achieved this feat.”
Another impressive item from the Region Conference was that the BEA BPA students swept the Health Insurance and Medical Billing category.
“All seven individuals advancing to State in that category are from BEA,” Vogltance said.
Vogltance notes that part of the reason for the success is the mentoring the BPA members receive from professionals in the community.
“We are so thankful for the help and support we receive from individuals and businesses in the area,” Vogltance commented. “It makes a difference.”
Amelia Greff is in her third year of membership of the BEA BPA Chapter and is currently serving as the chapter’s president.
“I really enjoy the people I am able to meet and interact with,” Greff, who will be heading to State in two different categories, said. “Being a member of BPA allows a person to gain a lot of experience in different careers and opens up the opportunity to network with different people and learn about various career choices.”
Greff shares she is excited to be competing at State as a member of the Parliamentary Pro Team and in Legal Office Proceedings.
Reed Sturtz is the secretary of the local BPA and is one of the BEA BPA members who will be heading to State for Health Insurance and Medical Billing.
“For me, going to State is all about meeting new people,” Sturtz remarked. “It is interesting to hear other people’s stories and plans.”
The treasurer for the BEA BPA is Sara Wirth. She will also be competing in Health Insurance and Medical Billing along with Health Administration Procedures.
“I would encourage those who have not joined BPA to consider becoming a member. As others have said, it is a great way to meet new people,” Wirth said. “I love that part of BPA and the chance to compete against kids from other schools.”
The State BPA Conference and Competition will be held March 6-8, and will include 2,200 other students from schools across the state.