The Mission: Preparing Global Professionals
Business Professionals of America (BPA) is a leading Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) dedicated to preparing students for success in college and careers. At Blue Earth Area High School, our chapter works to contribute to the preparation of global professionals by advancing leadership, citizenship, academic, and technological skills for students pursuing careers in business, finance, and information technology.
Competition and the Path to Nationals
The core of the BPA experience is its three-tiered competition structure, which allows students to test their skills and gain valuable experience:1
Regions: The first step in January where students compete to qualify for the state level.1
State: A larger conference held in March, where successful students qualify for the National Leadership Conference (NLC). Nationals (NLC): Held annually in May, this conference provides numerous opportunities for travel, networking, and competing against the best in the nation. The location changes every year, offering a unique travel experience.
Leadership, Growth, and Member Culture
BPA is a platform for student leadership. New members and veterans alike have the opportunity to run for:
Local Chapter Officers: Voted on by the chapter members.
Regional Officers: Chosen by the region advisors.
State and National Officers: Selected through a caucus and voted on by their peers.
The chapter maintains a highly supportive environment. Amelia, the Local and Regional Chapter President, states that the group is "very welcoming to new members because all the upperclassmen want to help the underclassmen improve and be the best version of themselves".
The advisor emphasizes student autonomy, stating, "You get out of BPA what you put into it". While there are no mandated practice times, students who put in the extra effort and come to the dedicated work sessions—typically Wednesdays from 4:00 – 6:00 PM—have a higher rate of success, benefiting from focused practice and help from community experts who volunteer their time.
A Focus on Diverse Skills
Students find BPA valuable for both skill development and social connection. Saturn found that participating in BPA taught them "professionalism and Mainly my accounting skills", sometimes learning concepts through competition tests before they were covered in class. Jose initially joined after realizing BPA covered "many careers" beyond accounting, which allowed him to pursue an interest in graphic design that he developed in a web design class, qualifying for state in the event. He is now interested in pursuing a coding event next year. Ultimately, the experience is also about building community, with Marcus sharing that his favorite thing about BPA is "having fun and spending time/making friends with everyone".
Financials and Community Support
Membership is supported through a partnership between students and the school:1
Membership Fees: Students pay a fee that covers half the cost of local, state, and national BPA membership, with the other half covered by the Letterman’s club fund.
Travel and Registration: The Letterman’s club fund also covers bus travel and registration for Regions and State competitions.
State Hotel Costs: Students are responsible for their hotel costs for State and often fundraise through a November coffee fundraiser partnered with a local business, Cabin Coffee.
Nationals Expense: Students who qualify for Nationals are responsible for the full expense (averaging about $1500 per student) and seek donations from local civic organizations to help offset the cost.