Business Professionals of America, or BPA, traveled to Wichita last week to compete at the state competition. All students in the competition qualified for nationals in several different events. At state, they could choose from a variety of events, including finance, accounting, healthcare, design and marketing. Sophomore Simarpreet Kaur placed second in her individual business law and ethics event and fifth in the visual design team with sophomore Namira Karim.

“[Competing is] very nerve-wracking at first, but you’ll get the hang of it,” Kaur said. “Once you get there, they provide everything for you, so if you feel that you are rushed or if you feel like you have forgotten something, they will [help] you.”

Business teacher Marcus Kain has been the head BPA sponsor for two years and said there is no application process or requirement to join other than being in a business class.

“As a group, we help kids with these workplace skills and determining various areas of passion that they get to compete in and get to show their abilities,” Kain said. “We select events, and everybody gets one individual, one team event, and then we work toward preparing for the regionals, state, and then if they choose to do so, qualify for national competitions in their particular events.”

As with any competition, students in BPA have been preparing for state in advance. Kain said that over the years, the club has been fine-tuning events where students compete and place. 

“We would meet them during AST, besides our monthly chapter meetings, and go over, and they’d share documents with us,” Kain said. “They’d have us review, provide feedback and do in-person presentations.” 


Kaur said that with BPA, she has learned you don’t have to be scared to do something. She said it makes people more confident and proud of their accomplishments. 

“I felt accomplished getting in these places in both my events because we, I and my partner, worked so hard to get to where we were. And we met and worked beforehand to get to the place we are at,” Kaur said.

Students who qualified for nationals will compete in Nashville in early May. Kain said the results at state were incredible, and BPA is a good resource for students. 

“BPA is a great chance for them to spread their wings to create significant milestones and hone their skills that they can use in the real world. 
It’s a chance where it’s not a heavy demand outside to participate,” Kain said. “We just have a monthly meeting, and it’s a chance to really network with other people, both at our school and beyond our school, meet kids around the state and to really develop a diverse skill set and knowledge base that will help you in the future on your career path.”