Su Valley students earn BPA honors

TALKEETNA— I had no idea what Business Professionals of America was until this year. Yes, I knew my sister, Sabrina, was a member for the last three years. But that’s about all.

I discovered that BPA is a nationwide Career and Technical Student Organization committed to helping teenagers interested in business learn elements of leadership, increase their technical skills and assess those real-world business skills and problem solving abilities in finance, management, IT and computer applications, and really have fun doing it.

When the BPA adviser, Sandra Yocom, approached me and invited me to join, I wanted to learn more. After attending the first meeting, eight other students and I signed up to be part of this year’s team.

We all got a little bit of a late start and wish we had more time to prepare, so we wondered how we would do at the state competition. I was able to work on two events: Extemporaneous Speech and Graphic Design Promotion (creating a flyer for next year’s national conference and competition) because my sister had done that and could help me.

We arrived on March 20. That’s where I learned that all the other Career and Technical Student Organizations in Alaska were part of this conference. There’s an Association for Marketing Students, for Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Agricultural Education, Health Occupations Students of America, careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations (SkillsUSA), and the Future Educators Association. Students, together with their advisors, came to a total of more than 500.

The three-day conference included BPA meetings, motivational speeches, business workshops, BPA meetings, competitions, general testing, and more BPA meetings.

Johann Timmers and I were unaware that we could run for state officer positions, but we found that out at the first meeting. We were game to try, so filled out the applications.

That night we stayed up until 3 a.m. working on speeches for the next day and learning all we could about BPA itself. We were in stiff competition against a lot of upperclassmen: juniors and seniors.

We gave our campaign speeches and were able to answer all the questions we were given about BPA. All we could do now was wait.

The last day of the conference we had our awards ceremony, and all I can say is our whole team did amazing! I got second in Extemporaneous Speech and fourth in Graphic Design. My sister finally got first in the state for her Graphic Design.

Overall, we had seven first-place winners and three in second place, with every team member placing in at least one of their competitions. To top things off for this year, both Johann and I made it to the state officer team. I was elected vice president, and Johann became the treasurer.

From the beginning of the three-day conference to the end, it was a great experience for me and I believe our whole team. The seven who notched first-place wins also qualified to compete at nationals, but all CTSOs are entirely self-funded. Our chapter raised just enough to send us to state.

Next year, BPA nationals is in Anaheim, Calif., May 6-10, and I plan to go. So fund-raising will start early.

Mitchel Jurasek is a sophomore at Susitna Valley High School.