National BPA conference first of the year for Montana

It was an event of firsts for Montana at the 2016 National Business Professionals of America Leadership Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. Over 5,500 students from 23 state association attended. The Montana's delegation represented 58 secondary chapters and 2 post-secondary chapters with a total Montana Association representation of 369 registered members, advisors, and guests. Business Professionals of America is the leading Career and Technical Student Organization for student pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields. Malta High School was represented by Chloe Hunter and Advisor Coleen Costin. This was Malta's first experience with Business Professionals of America at the National level, and Chloe placed 17th of 65 competitors in the Fundamental Word Processing test.

Saco High School was represented by Sophomore Christopher DePuydt and Freshman Devon Salveson. Both boys did well in their events. Christopher placed 27th of 67 competitors in Banking and Finance and 42nd of 66 competitors in Personal Financial Management. Devon placed 26th of 60 competitors in PC Servicing & Troubleshooting/MTA Windows OS Fundaments and 41 out of 60 in Computer Network Technology/MTA Networking Fundamentals. Their placings in these events are with very little "in school" preparation as neither student is presently taking any kind of business classes which would help prepare them for these examinations.

The three students also took "open" events including Administrative Support Concepts (Chloe); Information Technology Concepts and Computer Programming Concepts (Devon); and Financial Math & Analysis (Chris) which supplement the other tests they took. Any student is allowed to take öpen" tests so 100's of students do so. Devon, Chris, and Chloe's scores averaged in the top 50% range of these tests.

Besides testing and attending General Sessions, the students attended campaign rallies and meetings regarding National BPA officer elections. Chris and Devon both voted in the officer election in which Montana's own, Drew Mammel, won the National Presidential election. See below. They were also fortunate enough to tour many of "Bost0n's famous historical sites" on the famous Duckmobiles that travel both on land and sea. Our Duckmobile was called "Molasses Molly"and was a replica of land/water used during World War II. Chloe, Coleen Costin, and Annie DePuydt had the opportunity to visit Salem, Massachusetts-where a number of women were hung in the 1600's after being accused of being witches. The Montana chapters also went on a private 2-hour Harbor Tour which included a wonderful meal.

Drew Mammel, a junior at Billings Senior High School, was elected to serve as the 2016-17 National President, the first time in history that a Montana student has held that position. This is highly impressive for the Montana's BPA Association which has grown and excelled tremendously in the past 10 years. This was also BPA's 50th anniversary of existence and was a great celebration at the famous "Fenway Park" in Boston. Becky DePuydt, Saco's chaperone for the trip and 30-year Business Education teacher retiree from Saco, is also celebrating over 30 years of involvement in this great organization.

Montana BPA also added another first, the state association was award the Professional Cup Award. This award is given annually to the state whose local chapters participate in the BPA Cares Award Program as well as recognize outstanding state participation in BPA programs. The BPA Cares Program recognizes school who participated in service learning programs, marketing and public relations as well as chapter activities award of excellence. Montana was recognized with the following National BPA Honor Awards: Eric Swenson, Business Education Specialist for Montana Office of Public Instruction was inducted into the National BPA Hall of Fame. 107 Montana BPA students were recipients of the Ambassador Torch Award. Christopher DePuydt and Jada Sudbrack were recipients of the Ambassador Torch Award list year when they attended National BPA in Anaheim.

BPA Cares Award Recipients for Montana were awarded in the following areas: BPA Marketing and Public Relations Award: Hobson and St. Regis High Schools; Chapter Activities Award of Excellence: Cascade High School and St. Regis High School; Community Service: Cascade High School, Colstrip High School, St. Regis High School and Sidney High School. Member Recruiter of the Year recognition was given to: Victoria Barreto, Alejandro Ortiz and Bailey Menahan from Colstrip High School; Dalton Lemburg and Aaron Velenchenko from Shepherd High School and Haley Milton from Great Falls High School. Membership Explosion: Custer County District High School, Centerville High School, Columbus High School, Moore Public School, Colstrip High School, Froid Public School, Bainville School, Saco High School, Montana State Assn Virtual Chapter, Plevna High School, Shepherd High School, Lavina Public School and Circle High School. Safety Awareness Award: Cascade High School and Wibaux High School. Special Olympics Award: Colstrip High School and St. Regis High School

Quality Chapter Distinction at NLC was awarded to Alberton High School, Billings West High School, Broadview High School, Capital High School, Colstrip High School, Culbertson High School, Custer County District High School, Cut Bank High School, Forsyth High School, Helena High School, Hobson High School, Park High School, Powder River County District High School, Roberts High School, Shields Valley High School, Sidney High School, Simms High School, Skyview High School, St. Regis High School and Victor High School.

Sammi Francis of Superior High School of was recognized for her President Volunteer Service Award-Bronze Level. National Technical Honor Society Scholarships of $1000 were awarded to Aubrey Kessel and Luke Beenken of Sidney High School. National BPA awarded Carrie Cota of Roundup High School with a $750.oo scholarship. Drew Mammel, Billings Senior High, Cassidy Shaver, Billings West High and Kelsey Madler from Montana Virtual Post-Secondary Chapter were recognized was Merit Scholars.

Ten students were recognized for the completion of the National Student Certification. Su-san Deming, Circle High; Shawn Harkins, Culbertson High; Denise Harvey, Custer County District High; Charlene Heil, Custer Public School; Diane Lewis, Fergus High; Robert Hay, Poplar High and Natalie Schaff of Roundup High were honored for their completion of the National Advisor certification. The following advisors were recognized for their years of service as a BPA advisor: 5 years: Becky Dowden, Wes Lindeen, Terri Norman, Aarica Phillips and Lawrence Thomas; 10 years: Brenda Clark, Kelly Morford and Mitzi Richards; 20 years: Nancy Francis, Todd Lucier and Cheryl Udelhoven; 25 years: Charlene Heil and Beth Lawrence; 35 years: Linda Cotton.

Forty-four Montana secondary and post-secondary students/teams finished in the top ten in their respective events. First, second and third places received plaques. All top ten winners received medals. That's pretty amazing as there are about 70 events which students can compete in and Montana gained major recognition in 44 of those events.