ESCANABA — Three members of the Escanaba High School’s Business Professionals of America club will soon be heading to Chicago to compete at the national level, with another four accompanying them as voting delegates and conference volunteers.

Business Professionals of America (BPA) is a student organization with over 1,800 chapters in the country. It promotes student participation in professional, civic, service and social involvement with the goals of developing leadership skills, self-improvement and career development, particularly in areas of business management, information technology, finance and administration.

Escanaba’s BPA membership, which includes students from freshmen to senior classes, has grown from four in its first year to 32 this year, according to Cheri Lehto, club advisor and business education teacher.

Competitive events that challenge students in multiple disciplines include a Workplace Skills Assessment Program with advancing levels.

In January, a regional competition took place at Bay College. From there, 21 Escanaba students progressed to the state level. The State Leadership Conference was held from March 7 to 10 in Grand Rapids. One team and one individual from the Escanaba club placed well enough to advance to Nationals.

Maddie Wilson, Adrianna Getzloff and Sarah Myers on the Small Business Team and Myers individually for Legal Office Procedures will all be competing at the National Leadership Conference in Chicago, which is May 10 through 14.

Placing sixth at States was Esky’s Broadcast News Production Team, comprised of Ashley Dagenais, Aleaha Lambert and Zoe Wilson. Lehto noted that this standing was a “great accomplishment,” considering that over 1,000 students participated.

“All of the students put in countless hours and effort to get this far, and competed among the most academically competitive students in Michigan,” she said.

EHS BPA President Adelia Kang and officers Lambert, Wilson, and Taylor Forvilly will also be traveling to Chicago to volunteer and serve as voting delegates at the conference. Activities supporting the Special Olympics will also feature into the week.

Of the national conference, Lehto said, “It is a wonderful opportunity for our students to network with other like-minded students from across the country and prepare them for careers in a world-class workforce.”