It was an event of firsts for Montana at the 2018 National Business Professionals of America Leadership Conference in Dallas Texas. Over 5,600 individuals from 23 state association attended. The Montana’s delegation represented 54 secondary chapters and 3 post-secondary chapters with a total Montana Association representation of 344 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.

Montana BPA once again had an unbelievable year with members being recognized for their community service involvement. 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: 62 Montana BPA students were recipients of the Ambassador Torch Award; BPA Marketing and Public Relations Award of Achievement : Hobson, Lincoln and St. Regis High Schools; Chapter Activities Award of Excellence: Cascade High School, Hobson and St. Regis High Schools; Community Service Award of Achievement : Broadview, Hardin, Lincoln, Hobson and St. Regis High Schools; Special Olympics Award of Achievement : Capital , Hardin, Lincoln and St. Regis High Schools Special Olympics Certificate of Achievement: Custer, Hobson and Billings West High Schools ; Safety Awareness Award of Achievement: Cascade High School and Safety Awareness Certificate of Achievement: Hobson High School

Quality Chapter Distinction at NLC was awarded to the following 31 schools: Absarokee, Belgrade, Billings West High School, Broadview, CM Russell, Capital High School, Cascade, Colstrip, Culbertson, Custer Public Schools, Cut Bank, Fergus High School ,Forsyth High School, Froid High School, Great Falls High School, Hardin High School, Helena High School, Hobson High School, Lavina Public Schools, Melstone Public Schools, Poplar High School, Powder River County District High School, Roundup High School, Simms High School, Skyview High School, Twin Bridges High School, St. Regis High School, Superior High School, Victor High School and Winifred High School and Rocky Mountain College.

Thirty- four students were recognized for the completion of the National Student Certification. Dakota Auck, MaKenzie Bjork, Ben Brodhead, Jordan Calloway, Maclain Cathey, Cash Cota. Beau Drivdahl, Hannah Fraley, Sirena Gietzen, Taylor Griffin, Makenzie Guelff, Laura Harrington, Elizabeth Hickey, Hannah Johns, Christen Johnson, Max Kande, Delani Kriskovich, Kaycee Layne, Jacob Martin, Kenna Millhouse, Alicia McAlpine, Kelli Ober, Steven Preite, Hannah Rasmussen, Ruth Redfield, Brianna Rucker, Maddison Stephens, Savanna Stewart, Deanna Stieber,Andrea Swenson,Victoria Tirado, Reba Watson, Allison Wertheimer, Paytyn Wilson.

Five Montana BPA Advisors completed the National Advisor Certification: Aaron Cummings, Billings West, Kayla Fouts, Turner; Laurie Koepplin, St. Regis; Hayley Oelkers, Culbertson and Jody Sandru, Twin Bridges. The following advisors were recognized for their years of service as a BPA advisor: 5 years: Reid Lende of Park High School and Jody Sandru of Twin Bridges; 10 years: Nicole Bogunovich of Billings West High and Tracy Milton of Great Falls High 15 years: Becky Carda of Lambert High School and Dana Grupenhoff of Noxon High School, Jennifer Rohrer of Simms High School and for 20 years of service: Natalie Schaff of Roundup High School.

While in Dallas attended leadership training workshops, served as interns, celebrated the 51st Anniversary of BPA and competed in the workplace Skills Assessment Program. Montana Virtual Chapter PS member and a MSU Bozeman student, Connor Morrison was elected as the National BPA Secondary President.

Many Montana secondary and post-secondary students finished in the top ten in their respective events. First, second and third places received plaques. All top ten winners received medals. Including St. Regis’ Ian Farris in Intermediate Word Processing and Madison Kelly in Economic Research.

Altogether, six St. Regis students made it to Nationals and left for Dallas, TX on May 9. Advisor, Laurie Koepplin said the group stayed at the Gaylord Texan and enjoyed five acres of gardens, waterfalls and restaurants.

She said Emma Hill competed in Presentation Management and made it to finals on Saturday and Madison Kelly, Anna Sanford, Kylee Thompson and Emma Hill competed in Integrated Office Applications. Where Anna and Emma placed in the top 25. Also, Ian Farris competed in Intermediate Word Processing and placed fourth out of 58, which she said was amazing. Anna Sanford competed in Administrative Support Research and placed 15th out of 41. The group also picked up six National awards: Outstanding Achievement Award for our donation to Special Olympics; Outstanding Achievement Award for BPA Marketing and Public Relations; Outstanding Achievement Award for Community Service; Chapter Activities Award of Excellence for creating a Quality Chapter; and Anna Sanford, Connor Dunlap and Emma Hill each received the Ambassador Torch Award - the highest service award from BPA.

Koepplin also thanked all of businesses and individuals who supported the group in their efforts to travel to Texas.