In late April, 22 Bromfield high schoolers traveled all the way to the other side of the country to partake in the national competition for Business Professionals of America. Judged on product and presentation, these bright students rose from the local level to the national spotlight.
BPA is a progressive program where you must succeed on the state level in order to attend nationals. Eligibility comes with first, second, or third place in your individual event, or first or second in your group event. This year, the state competition took place in Norwood, Massachusetts. Around 30 students from Bromfield attended, and in the end, 22 of those who qualified attended nationals.
In bustling Anaheim, California, nationals was a once-in-a-lifetime experience where kids got the chance to connect with 6,000 other teenagers of different cultures, values, and political opinions. Bromfield students were required to participate in an individual and a group event, as well as take one ‘open’ and one workshop (at the minimum). Opens are tests that assess your knowledge of business-related subjects, such as mathematics, digital communication, etc. Workshops teach you how to lead and perform in a professional atmosphere (an example being “Dress for Success”).
Before the trip, the group held bake sales and car washes to raise money for other fun activities in California. Such activities include visiting Santa Monica Pier and Disneyland. Students could also enjoy their free time in pools, gyms, and restaurants around the conference centers.
While everyone did a fantastic job, one team stood out to the judges in particular. Jack Dunn, Zack Lizotte, and Ethan Russo ranked fifth out of 45 teams in visual design. Their ingenuitive creation of a video game that targeted all age groups certainly turned some heads.
Next year, BPA nationals will be in Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Fontaine stresses the importance of engrossing yourself in the experience rather than having a first-place mentality. She shares how there are many little adventures throughout the trip other than your business events: “That’s the thing–you can have a little bit of fun, as well, so that you bond together as a group.”
