By Bethany Sanderson/reporter
Seven NW students returned from the Texas State Business Professionals of America Leadership Conference early this month with 12 first-place and one second-place honors.
Students competed with their own workplace projects.
“The purpose of BPA is to compete in the state and national competitions in business-related events,” student Mia Easley said.
Easley was asked by her business instructor Julie Russell last semester to join BPA.
Easley’s current career goal is to be a teacher.
“I could compete in presentation management, which entails public speaking as well as creating printed material and a PowerPoint,” she said.
With help from Russell and NW speech instructor Carol Hunsberger, Easley honed her skills and created a final project about back to school for the competition.
“The event was a fun-filled day with entertainment and amusement aimed at getting kids excited about going back to school,” Easley said.
The idea included free school supplies for students.
“I was able to tailor my presentation to my education major in that way, too,” she said.
Easley would like to put the competition concept into effect in the community.
NW BPA president Emily Almaguer found her business, marketing and human resources classes beneficial in preparation for the human resource management contest.
“I have learned skills that help me to succeed, and the professors have been beyond helpful,” she said.
Almaguer plans to attend TCU to pursue a bachelor’s in marketing.
Five of the students will attend the National Leadership Conference May 4-8 in Washington, D.C.