Valley high school students have business savvy

PALMER -- Several Mat-Su students were recognized at the May 21 school board meeting for their achievements in this year's Business Professionals of America statewide competition.

The high school students competed in events such as spreadsheet applications, keyboarding, desktop publishing, network administration interviewing skills and parliamentary procedure.

BPA is a student organization that "contributes to the preparation of a world-class workforce through the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic, and technological skills for students," according to the national Web site.

Students annually compete in local, state and national competition to show the skills they have learned. Through the program they also network with one another and professionals across the nation, and are afforded the opportunity to be involved in community projects.

The program is available to middle school, high school and college students.

The program has several liaisons between local businesses, industry and educational organizations, such as the National Business Advisory Council (NABC) and the Classroom Educators Advisory Council (CEAC).

Student and professionals pay national dues of $9 per student/advisor per school year plus state dues, according to the Web site. With national membership, members receive issues of BPA's official magazine, "Communique," an annual chapter handbook; issues of a local advisor's bulletin, competitive guidelines, and information about the national leadership conference, among other resources.

Following graduation from high school, chapter members attending either two-or four-year institutions of higher learning are encouraged to become involved in a postsecondary Business Professionals of America chapter.

Those who enter the work force immediately after graduation can enjoy the activities of the alumni division of the association.

The following are local students who won first-place in the state level of competition: Vincent Veit, Houston High School, spreadsheet applications; Linnea Pudwill, Houston, banking and finance; Jeff Krauss, Colony High School, Randy Gorman, Colony, Joshua King, Colony, and Vincent Veit, Houston, financial analyst team; Marie Stoper, Colony, desktop publishing; Ashley Smith, Colony, legal office procedures; Roger Swingle, Wasilla High School, database applications; Brandon McLeod, Wasilla, Sean Jordan, Chris Luther, Wasilla, administrative support-team; Marie Stoner, colony, administrative support concepts; Luke Mathot, Houston, PC servicing/troubleshoot; Luke Mathot, Houston, CISCO network administration; Luke Mathot, Houston, information technology concepts; Mellissa Mayse, Lisa Pontius, Jessica Alderman, Rita Hartman, Wasilla, small business management team; Katee Gibbs, Palmer, interview skills; Stephanie Thompson, Houston, prepared speech; Lauren Abbott, Joe Peace, Greg Gray, Wasilla, presentation management team; Turner Wingo, Houston, parliamentary procedure; Marie Stoner, Colony, management/marketing/human resources.

Business Professionals of America's national offices can be reached by calling (614) 895-7277 or toll-free at (800) 334-2007. In Mat-Su, call Carolyn Tolson, state advisor at Wasilla High School, 376-5341.