Shown above are BPA members who brought home awards from the State BPA competition. Kneeling, left to right, are Lauren Bleess, Haley Kalis, Lexis Rodriguez, Clara Ziegler, Allie Lopez, Kylie Rosenau. Middle row, left to right, Lilah Farrow, Mya Steinhauer, Noah Johnson, Calvin Farrow, Cale Borris, Levi Osborn, Karissa Lopez, Kyla Roiger. Back row, left to right, Cameron Hassing, Parker Meyers, Nick Barke, Jack Norman, Aubrey Hueper, Eloise Blair.

The Blue Earth Area Business Professionals of America (BPA) members came home with some nice hardware after attending the State Leadership Conference in Minneapolis, March 10-12.

Calvin Farrow brought home a first-place trophy in the fundamental accounting category. Farrow also finished second in Python computer programming.

Kylie Rosenau finished second in medical diagnostic coding and third in payroll accounting.

It was a fourth place finish for Haley Kalis in health insurance and medical billing while Lauren Bleess took fifth in payroll accounting.

These four students all qualified for the National BPA Leadership Conference, May 4-8, in Dallas, Texas. However, Rosenau and Bleess will not be attending due to scheduling conflicts.

However, four other BEA BPA members who were finalists at the State competition will be competing in the Nationals due to qualifiers from other schools being unable to attend.

Those four students are Levi Osborn, Kyla Roiger, Lilah Farrow and Cameron Hassing.

Osborn will compete in fundamental accounting, Roiger will compete in fundamental spreadsheet applications. Lilah Farrow qualified in legal office procedures and Hassing advanced in health insurance and billing.

“We did real well at State,” BPA advisor Holly Christian said. “BEA had three of the top nine finishers in fundamental accounting and two of the top nine in payroll accounting.”

According to Christian, the students get to utilize resources, such as their accounting books, during the competition.

“But, they have to know how to use them,” she offers.

Then there is the case of Calvin Farrow.

“It was five minutes before 4 p.m. and Calvin texts me and asks if I happen to have an extra accounting book because he forgot his,” Christian explains. “I did not have one and the test started at 4 p.m. so I told him he would have to get by without a book.”

So that is what Farrow did.

“And then he won,” Christian says, laughing.

It is the fourth year of existence for the BEA BPA organization and at least one student or team has qualified for the national competition each year.

There are 950 BPA student members across Minnesota who participate in the organization’s competitive events program. There are about 60 different competition events focused in the areas of finance, business administration, management information systems, digital communication and design, management, marketing and communication.

The competitions are designed to prepare students to succeed and assess real-world business skills and problem solving abilities. The students who competed at the State conference had qualified earlier at a Region competition.

Farrow, a senior, says he was surprised with his first-place finish in fundamental accounting.

“There were a lot of people competing in that category,” he shares. “So, to take first was somewhat shocking.”

Kalis, who is a junior this year, shared what she had to do to earn her fourth place finish in her category.

“I had to fill out a medical claim and demonstrate knowledge about the basic types of insurance,” she comments. “I was surprised I did as well as I did and I am very excited for the trip to Dallas and the chance to compete at Nationals.”

Osborn, Lilah Farrow, Hassing and Roiger all said they were happy and grateful for the chance to move on.

Farrow is a senior while Osborn and Hassing are both juniors. Roiger, a sophomore, is the youngest of the group and in her first year as a member of BPA.

“Kyla is excellent in the use of Microsoft Excel,” Christian shares. “She had to use the program to enter formulas, correctly format reports and produce a graph which displayed the information.”

Roiger is excited about making the trip to Dallas.

“I have never been to Texas before,” she says. “I think it will be fun.”

The group of BPA members will have more to do than just taking part in the competition.

“BPA really is an organization that believes in giving back,” Christian shares. “One of the days during the conference is a volunteer day. There is an opportunity to get involved with Special Olympics and other service organizations. There will also be tours available for the kids to take advantage of including going to AT&T Stadium, the Dallas Aquarium or the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.”

According to Christian, there will also be workshops available for both the students and the teachers.

The students are not the only ones excited about the success of the BPA program.

“It was so fun at State to see the kids connect with other people and continue to grow and come out of their shells,” Christian states. “But, what I am most proud of is the way these kids support each other. Everybody is truly happy for everyone else’s success.”