Area students attend BPA in Billings

Congratulations Malta and Saco Business Professionals of America (BPA) members for your performances at Montana's State BPA Conference in Billings March 13-15.

Attendees from Malta High School include: Reese Sjostrom, Erica Nagy, and Chloe Hunter all freshmen at Malta High School. Mrs. Coleen Costin is Malta's BPA advisor.

Attendees from Saco High School include: Christian Menge, Chandler Pippin, Christopher DePuydt, and Devon Salveson. Mr. Duane Walker is Saco's BPA advisor.

Besides competing in business related events (after qualifying at the Regional Competition in Sidney, Montana), the Malta/Saco students attended general sessions, workshops, a dance, and the awards ceremony at the 2 ½ day conference.

Reese Sjostrom/Erica Nagy and Christopher DePuydt/Chandler Pippin were voting delegates for the "New" 2016-17 State Officers election, and Chris DePuydt attended a Chapter Presidents' breakfast.

Eighty-four BPA Chapters from all across the state of Montana attended the conference with over 1,100 competitors. The Montana chapters contributed over $14,000 to "Montana Special Olympics" to be used at the Summer Special Olympics Games in Missoula in May. Montana Business Professionals of America is one of "Montana's" Special Olympics largest donors.

Chloe Hunter placed 8th in the Fundamental Word Processing competition out of 67 competitors. She was recognized with a medal on "Stage" for placing in the top 10 of the event. Erika Nagy placed 16th in Fundamental Spreadsheets out of 50 competitors. Reese Sjostrom also placed in the top 20 of the Intermediate Word Processing competition out of 53 participants.

Devon Salveson placed 4th in PC Troubleshooting out of 40 competitors and 6th in Computer Technology out of 29 competitors. He received a 4th place plaque on "Stage" for PC Troubleshooting which qualifies him for the National BPA Conference in Boston, Massachusetts in early May. Chandler Pippin placed 7th in PC Troubleshooting and received a medal on "Stage" for being in the top 10 of the event. Christian Menge competed in the Fundamental Accounting competition. Chris DePuydt placed 1st in Banking and Finance out of 55 competitors and 5th in Personal Finance out of 57 competitors. He received a 1st and 5th place plaque respectively for the two events and also qualifies for the National BPA Conference in Boston where over 5,000 BPA secondary members from 24 different states will compete against each other in 67 business related events.