The BEA BPA students pictured were all finalists at the Minnesota BPA State Leadership Conference competition held March 6-8, in Minneapolis. They are, front row, left to right, Tailor Douglas, Alexis Thompson, Abigail Greff, Hunter Survis. Middle row, left to right, Aubrey Woodwick, Reed Sturtz, Amelia Greff, Ava Peterson. Back row, left to right, Madelyn Ferguson, Annika Salisbury, Carter Rosenau, Carol Schrader, Lola Faulhaber, Grace Schavey. Missing from the photo is Grace Hanson.

The Blue Earth Area Business Professionals of America (BPA) had another outstanding showing when they competed at the annual Minnesota BPA State Leadership Conference which was held March 6-8 at the Minneapolis Hyatt Recency.

Six different BEA students qualified for Nationals with three of the six qualifying in two different events. There were also 10 other students who were finalists and could have the opportunity to compete at Nationals if students who finished ahead of them are unable to compete at Nationals.

Over 2,000 Minnesota BPA members took part in the organization’s competitive events program in Minneapolis which encompassed nearly 70 events focused in the areas of finance, business administration, management information systems, digital communication and design, and management, marketing and communication.

The competitions are designed to prepare students to succeed and assesses real-world business skills and problem-solving abilities. After qualifying earlier this year, regional winners put their talents to the test during the State Leadership Conference.

“I am just so proud of all of our students,” BPA advisor Holly Vogltance says. “In my mind, all of my students are winners.”

The BPA competition is a one-class competition meaning schools of every size compete against each other.

“A school like Wayzata may bring 200 students to the competition while we brought 48,” Vogltance explains. “It makes me very happy to see what we accomplished.”

Vogltance mentions it’s not just the competition where these kids excel.

“I get to see the behind-the-scenes work these kids do,” she comments. “These students do a lot of prepping and studying. They put in the work it takes to be successful.”

The following BEA students qualified to go to Nationals and each one has to decide whether or not to make the trip.

Madelyn Ferguson took first place in Health Administration Procedures, Amelia Greff was fifth in Legal Office Procedures and Carter Rosenau was fifth in Advanced Accounting.

Annika Salisbury, Grace Schavey and Carol Schrader each qualified in two separate categories. Salisbury was first in both Advanced Accounting and Payroll Accounting, Grace Schavey was third in Fundamental Accounting and second in Payroll Accounting and Carol Schrader was second in Medical Coding and Health Insurance and Medical Billing.

The students who were finalists and waiting to see if a spot opens up to attend Nationals are Lola Faulhaber in Fundamental Accounting, Ava Peterson in Legal Office Procedures, Tailor Douglas in Digital Media Production, Aubrey Woodwick in Business Law and Ethics and the Parliamentary Pro Team of Reed Sturtz, Peterson, Alexis Thompson, Grace Hanson, Abigail Greff, Amelia Greff and Henry Survis.

The 60th Annual National Leadership Conference – the pinnacle of BPA competition – will be held May 7-11 at Orlando, Florida.

There was another Blue Earth person who also received a special award at the State Leadership Conference.

Greta Dahlberg was awarded the 2025 Minnesota Secondary BPA Outstanding Advisory Committee Award in recognition of her dedication to business education and service to BPA.

Dahlberg, who has worked at United Hospital District in Blue Earth for 19 years, has volunteered her time to help advise BEA BPA students for the last 5-6 years.

“I work with the students competing in Medical Coding and Billing, Health Insurance and Medical Billing and Health Administrative Procedures,” Dahlberg explains.

Dahlberg, who is the Revenue Cycle manager at UHD, says she is always impressed with the BPA students she works with.

“Every year I tell the kids that they could come back and work for me,” Dahlberg shares. “What they have to learn for their competitions is incredible.”

Dahlberg takes time over her lunch hour to work with the students.

“I usually come to the high school two or three times a year,” she says. “They are ready with questions or specific problems they need help with.”

And, according to Dahlberg, the students are not the only ones getting something out of their training sessions.

“I originally wanted to be a teacher,” she confesses. “So I get to get a taste of that while working with the kids. It’s a really fun environment because they want to learn.”

Dahlberg says UHD has been fortunate to have had some BPA students work at the front desk at the hospital.

“They do a good job because of their knowledge,” she comments. “What we are really hoping for is that some BPA members will come back and work at UHD on a permanent basis. We always enjoy when young people come back to the area.”