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St. Regis students honored at business conference

Kathleen Woodford | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 5 months AGO
by Kathleen Woodford
| May 25, 2016 2:58 PM

It was an event of firsts for Montana at the 2016 National Business Professionals of America Leadership Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. Over 5,500 students from 23 state association attended. The Montana’s delegation represented 58 secondary chapters and two post-secondary chapters with a total Montana Association representation of 369 registered members, advisors, and guests.

Business Professionals of America is the leading Career and Technical Student Organization for student pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields.

St. Regis students, Madison Hill and Anna Sanford, attended the National Leadership Conference after earning a qualifying spot by taking first in the State Conference in the Economic Research Team Event earlier this year.

In the Economic Research Team Event students were tasked with writing and presenting a research paper addressing the effects of the national debt on the economic structure of the United States. The team came in seventh, and they received medals for their accomplishment.

Jaymen Sibert from Alberton, and Sammi Frances, from Superior, also attended the National Leadership Conference. Where Francis was recognized for her President Volunteer Service Award -Bronze Level. Sibert placed 30 out of 68 kids in his event.

“It was pretty awesome, considering we compete against huge schools and many private tech specific schools at the national level,” said Alberton BPA supervisor, A.J. Angelo.

Drew Mammel, a junior at Billings Senior High School, was elected to serve as the 2016-17 National President, the first time in history that a Montana student has held that position.

Montana BPA also added another first, the state association was award the Professional Cup Award. This award is given annually to the state whose local chapters participate in the BPA Cares Award Program as well as recognize outstanding state participation in BPA programs.

The BPA Cares Program recognizes school who participated in service learning programs, marketing, and public relations, as well as chapter activities award of excellence. Montana was recognized with the following National BPA Honor Awards: Eric Swenson, Business Education Specialist for Montana Office of Public Instruction, was inducted into the National BPA Hall of Fame. 107 Montana BPA students were recipients of the Ambassador Torch Award.

The St. Regis Chapter received the following awards during the National Leadership Conference: BPA Marketing and Public Relations Award; Chapter Activities Award of Excellence; Community Service; Special Olympics Award; and Quality Chapter Distinction.

Hill and Sanford received the Ambassador Torch Award. This award frames and guides a BPA member’s leadership and service to their chapter and community. Students complete activities in the seven Torch categories--Leadership; Service; Cooperation; Knowledge; Friendship; Love, Hope, Faith; and Patriotism. They then log their activities in an online Torch Résumé. Ambassador is defined as “a diplomatic official of the highest rank appointed and accredited as representative of the organization.”

While in Boston students attended leadership training workshops, served as interns, celebrated the 50th Anniversary of BPA, and attended the annual business meeting. At this meeting, Montana BPA successfully sponsored two amendments to the Secondary Division Constitution and Bylaws. These were approved during the Secondary Division Business Meeting.

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