Courtesy photo Stephenson High School Business professionals of America students show off the awards they received at the Annual Michigan Business Professionals of America State Leadership Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich.

STEPHENSON — Members of the Stephenson High School Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter recently competed at the Annual Michigan Business Professionals of America State Leadership Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich. The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel was the site of the conference, with computer contests held at Davenport University. The theme of this year’s conference was “Frame Your Future.” Accompanying the students to the conference were advisors Tarra Bourgeois and Kelly Kim.

Eight Stephenson students competed against the top Michigan BPA high school chapters in both team and individual events. Layla Engel and Anna Marcoe served as Stephenson’s voting delegates in the election of the new state BPA executive council.

The awards session on Sunday was live streamed on the conference app and viewers were able to see SHS students recognized on stage.

Taking first place were:

Joelle Beaudo in Parliamentary Procedures Concepts

Parliamentary Procedures Team: members are Joelle Beaudo, Morgan Bergquist,

Faith Cappaert, Olivia Cappaert, and Luke Olson

Second place was awarded to:

Lilyan Wagner in Advanced Word Processing

Ashton Grinsteiner in Interview Skills

Faith Cappaert in Parliamentary Procedures Concepts

Third place award was earned by:

Olivia Cappaert in Parliamentary Procedures Concepts

Fourth place was awarded to:

Luke Olson in Parliamentary Procedures Concepts

Seventh place was earned by:

Morgan Bergquist in Parliamentary Procedures Concepts

Gabriella Putnam also attended the conference, competing in Interview Skills, attending business oriented workshops, and participating in other conference events.

Top students from Stephenson High School will be attending the national BPA conference, “Seize the Opportunity” in Chicago, Ill. May 10-14. The Parliamentary Procedure Team as well as individual members Lilyan Wagner and Ashton Grinsteiner will advance to competition at the national conference. The Stephenson students will join thousands of other conference delegates from across the nation to participate in national level business skill competitions, workshops, general sessions, and the national officer candidate campaigns and elections. Besides having the opportunity to excel, they will experience the city of Chicago with the opportunity to visit exciting sites. The conference will be the culmination of a school year’s worth of business workforce education and training which members of the local chapter of Business Professionals of America have received.

To finance their trip to Chicago, the Stephenson BPA members are fundraising and seeking donations from area businesses and organizations.

Business Professionals of America is a dynamic national youth organization which provides leadership and business opportunities for high school students to prepare them for their future careers. The organization’s activities and programs complement classroom instruction by giving students practical experience through application of the skills learned at school. The mission of Business Professionals of America is to contribute to the preparation of global professionals through the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic and technological skills.