When 52 Blue Earth Area Business Professionals of America (BPA) members attended the Regional BPA Conference on Jan. 3, 47 of them qualified to attend the State BPA Conference to be held in Minneapolis on March 14-16. Members of the BEA BPA Chapter are pictured above. In the back row, left to right, are Levi Masters, Thomas Golly, Matthew Klabunde, Joe Frundt, Brady Lorenz, Gustavo Chavero, Gibson Haase, Jamie Johnson, Noah Hanson, Devin Haase, Manav Chaudhari, Seth Mathews, Seth Stevermer, Reed Sturtz, Taylor Klabunde and Kyla Roiger. In the third row, left to right, are Jayden Fuchs, Laura Steinhauer, Tailor Douglas, Paige Kirsch, Madelyn Ferguson, Katherine Armon, Hailey Becker, Berkley Hagedorn, Anna Mwangi, Olivia Dutton, Sara Wirth, Kaylee Bach, Leah Becker and Bailee Burns. In the second row, left to right, are Gage Barker, Lulu Frank, Makenzie Benschoter, Layla Henschke, Amelia Greff, Alexis Thompson, Carol Schrader, Ava Peterson and Grace Hanson. In the bottom row, left to right, are Kennadi Hubly, Sidney Eitzmann, Ayla Warmka, Sammy Meyers, Aubrey Woodwick, Gracelyn Murphy, Mia Petersen and Alina Gomaz. Not pictured are Jackie Martinez, Sterling Madson, Carter Rosenau, Kaden Guthmiller, Emily He and Marcus Eckles.

The Blue Earth Area Business Professionals of America (BPA) Chapter has experienced a boom in participation – and success – this year.

On Jan. 3, 52 of the team’s whopping 53 members traveled to Rochester to participate in the Regional BPA Conference, and 47 of them were awarded the opportunity to progress to the State BPA Conference on March 14-16, in Minneapolis.

First place individual finishers included Taylor Klabunde in Advanced Interview Skills, Manav Chaudhari in Business Law and Ethics and Amelia Greff in Legal Office Procedures.

Several teams also placed first at Regionals, including the Financial Analyst team of Gage Barker, Sterling Madson, Carter Rosenau and Matthew Klabunde, and the Global Marketing team of Joe Frundt, Jamie Johnson, Brady Lorenz and Seth Mathews.

BPA advisor Holly Vogltance says she has enjoyed having such a big roster for BEA BPA this season.

“We were so big this year, we didn’t fit on the bus,” Vogltance laughs. “It’s a good problem to have.”

Vogltance notes that BPA is an appealing activity for students due to its versatility.

“There’s so many different avenues in BPA for students,” she explains. “When somebody asks me what BPA is, it’s so hard to encompass.”

BEA’s BPA students competed in 23 categories alone at Regionals, from advanced accounting, to computer security, to health administration procedures.

Two teams of BEA BPA students also competed in a new category for the first time this season: Broadcast News Production.

“I’m extremely happy with the broadcast news teams,” Vogltance observes. “They did a super job, and it was very fun.”

Senior BEA BPA officer Kyla Roiger explains that the category challenges students to produce their own news broadcast segment in front of a green screen, complete with weather reports, interview segments, and more.

Roiger, who serves as BPA president, is one of four BPA officers this year; other senior officers include vice president Bailee Burns, secretary Taylor Klabunde and treasurer Makenzie Benschoter.

Vogltance says this is the first year BEA BPA has elected officers.

“From my end, it’s been very helpful,” she adds.

Among other things, the officers have helped run BPA meetings and they have served as a point of communication for their fellow BPA members.

For example, because Regionals was scheduled so soon after BEA’s winter break, the officers made a point to check in with each of the BPA members over the break to remind them to practice for the competition and to answer questions about matters such as the competition dress code.

Roiger says this is one of the aspects she enjoys most about being an officer.

“I like making connections with younger kids in the group,” she explains.

Additionally, all of the officers help with organizing fundraisers and planning transportation and meals for upcoming competitions.

“We are seniors, so we have a lot of experience with BPA,” Klabunde observes. “We put a lot of input in.”

Trips to Regionals, State and Nationals require significant funds and planning.

“When students qualify for Nationals, the cost is 100 percent on the students,” Vogltance comments. “It can get expensive – we look for ways kids can raise funds.”

One way that BEA BPA members can raise funds for competitions is by selling concessions at BEA sporting events.

“Selling concessions has been a great way to raise money,” Roiger says.

The officers and Vogltance are already brimming with plans for the National BPA Conference, in the event that any BEA BPA members qualify. This year, Nationals will be held in Chicago from May 10-14.

“We try to find ways to experience the cities we compete in,” Vogltance explains.

In the meantime, the group will continue practicing hard for the upcoming State conference in March.

Vogltance prepares BPA students for competition by scheduling coaching sessions with individuals and teams.

She also offers students access to practice tests and other resources.

Vogltance notes that a particularly helpful resource this year has been Greta Dahlberg, a United Hospital District employee who has been coaching students on healthcare-related topics.

“I always learn things when she comes,” Vogltance says.

She adds, “I try to offer as much encouragement as I can without being overbearing, because then it becomes stressful.”

Vogltance must have succeeded, because her officers have nothing but positive things to say about BPA.

“Meeting new people from different schools is really fun, and being a leader with 50 other people,” Roiger says.

Klabunde adds, “It’s a really enjoyable experience, and it has prepared me for working in a company both big or small.”

Burns concludes, “I enjoy the volunteer aspect of it. There are so many categories, you can always find something you like. And, you get rewarded for your hard work at competitions.”