Xavier BPA sets new records

Jenae Marshall, News Writer

Xavier sweeps yet again. This year, Thirty-two business students who qualified for the BPA National Conference. Overall they placed first in 16 events, breaking the previous year’s record of 12 events. The Xavier Business Professionals of America (BPA) students attended the BPA Conference in Des Moines from February 17-19. BPA is the nation’s top Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO), allowing students to develop crucial business skills and to grow personal connections. The program is also a way for students to prepare for a career in the business world, following their educational journey.

BPA students pose with their awards following the award ceremony on February 19. Bill Devereaux Photo.

“I want to improve business skills such as giving formal presentations and working on computers with different programs like Microsoft Access and Word,” senior Matthew Jordebrek said. “I also get to meet a lot of new people.”

In addition to the 32 students advancing to nationals, Xavier had three students who won open events, which any BPA member is able to compete in. The three students were sophomore Kate Burns and juniors Taylor Coester and Sarah Cunningham.

“It helps prepare them for the 21st century skills that employers are expecting their employees to possess,” BPA moderator Mr. Tim O’Brien said. “Many of my former students have landed internships related to their college degrees and will communicate with me that their BPA successes helped them to land their internships.”

BPA is split into computer exams and presentations. The computer exams are 60-90 minutes and the students are given different tasks to complete. The presentations are ten minutes and each team must give an effective solution to a rehearsed business problem.

The national qualifiers are given the opportunity to compete at the BPA National Conference in Anaheim, California from April 30 to May 5.