ANAHEIM, CALIF. - Both Charlo and Ronan sent two participants to the 44th National Leadership Conference May 4-8. About 6,000 total students competed and qualified after regional and state competitions.

BPA is the leading CTSO (Career Technical Student Organization) for students pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields.

BPA has more than 51,000 members in over 2,300 chapters in 23 states.

The mission of Business Professionals of America is to contribute to the preparation of a world-class workforce through the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic, and technological skills

"It's extremely difficult to qualify out of Montana," Ronan BPA coordinator Ron Hanson said. "When Montana kids go [to nationals] they do real well."

Charlo BPA coordinator Mike Krahn agrees.

"It's pretty tough to be in the top at state," he said. "It's an honor to even place at state."

Montana had about 1,200 participants at its state competition, with Ronan and Charlo each sending two students to the national tournament.

Ronan sent junior Alex Dulmes and senior Tyler Gorrie. Both took second in their respective events during the state conference.

At nationals, Dulmes took 33 out of 78 in Medical Transcription Procedures and Gorrie took 45 out of 90 in the Cisco Systems Administration.

"Both did real well," Hanson said. "It was a lot of fun."

Dulmes prepared with help from her mom, who works at a doctor's office. "She was able to get tips from her mom," Hanson said.

Gorrie prepared for his first trip to California by looking at the regional and state tests and building from them.

"We went by past performances," Hanson said. "His uncle helped him understand Cisco. The kids worked hard and I think it paid off."

Charlo sent junior Spencer Shaftner and senior Kristi Fullerton. It was the second time each had made it to the national tournament.

Shaftner finished tenth in the Prepared Speech competition out of 48 competitors, earning himself a medal. His speech was on business ethics.

He used his background in drama to help construct his speech, Krahn said.

Fullerton finished 37 out of 77 in Fundamentals of Word Processing and 19 out of 68 in Payroll Accounting. Fullerton's enrollment in computer and accounting classes prepared her for the competitions.

It wasn't all work as the competitors took in a baseball game, visited the beach and enjoyed Disneyland, among other activities.