Out of approximately 450 students from all over the state and 21 from Manhattan High who entered the state Business Professionals of America state leadership conference last week, 14 MHS students qualified for nationals.

The BPA competition took place Feb. 16-18 in Wichita. Sophomores through juniors in technology or business classes are encouraged to become BPA members, which makes them eligible for the conference and competition that includes around 50 events.

The MHS qualifiers who placed in the top three of their events will head to Orlando on May 10.

While a some of the attendees from MHS were experienced in the club, novices also had the opportunity to compete and succeed.

“[I] kind of wish I didn’t wait until senior year to compete because I definitely could’ve been more prepared and less nervous,” Butler said, “but nonetheless it was an incredible experience and I’m grateful to have been part of it.”

Butler placed first in Fundamental Word Processing and second in Advanced Accounting.

“It was kind of intimidating honestly,”Butler said. “There were kids all over Kansas competing at state and it was my first time there so I was definitely intimidated but after the initial shock of that. It was fun and cool to be around other people who share the same passions.”

As part of a requirement to compete, sponsor Paige McCarthy makes sure the participants put in a minimum of 10 hours to prepare for their two judged events. In addition to teh two events each member prepares and competes in, students must take at least 50 open events. All of the open events tests are 50 questions to answer.

Other than that, participants say they can’t really prepare for the tests since they are right on the spot and vary for other events. There were pretests available online or, teachers had the option to pay a fee of $10 to receive the district tests.

“We do not have districts [contests], but the Wichita schools and the Kansas City schools get districts, so we feel like they really have an advantage because they have an idea of what to study or what to prepare for,” McCarthy said. “Or even to get in front of people before our kids can.”

Many of the BPA members have encouraged other students to try this and get into a business class during their high school years knowing that they will someday have a job.

“I just want to advise everyone to get involved in a business class and BPA. It will really help you in the long run and [accounting teacher Glenda] Eichman always says ‘one day you’ll either own a business or work for one,’” Butler said. “So it’s good to start educating yourself now about how businesses in the real world work. Might as well get your foot in the door and be one step ahead.”

National Qualifiers include:

Taylor Butler — 2nd Advanced Accounting; 1st Fundamental Word Processing

Lauren Casper — 4th Advanced Accounting

Lauren Casper, Caroline Cassou, Carter Perkins, Josh Rockey—1st Financial Analyst Team

Lily Colburn — 2nd Extemporaneous Speech; 3rd Prepared Speech

Jaalannee Dugassa — 5th Fundamental Word Processing

Stephanie Fu — 1st Java Programming

Stephanie Fu and Luann Jung — 1st Administrative Support Team

Luann Jung — 2nd Medical Office Procedures

Ethan Kaus — 1st Personal Financial Management

Eilish MacCharles — qualified in Fundamental Accounting

Cade Roberts — 5th Personal Financial Management; qualified in Banking and Finance;

Josh Rockey — 5th Advanced Accounting

Blaine Snyder — 3rd Fundamental Word Processing

Gabe Weathers — 5th Fundamentals of Web Design