From left to right: Standing, Michigan’s BPA Director Maurice Henderson, Matthew Keast, Hunter Robinson, Jake Poquette, Nick Chaillier, Connor Howes, Andrew Lord, Landon (Marcy) Dugree, Haylee Gatien, Gabriel Viau and Bay College’s BPA Advisor Brent Madalinski. Sitting: Gracelyn Wiles, Wyatt Groleau, Payton Saari, Haylee Gordon and Riley Rebholz.

ESCANABA – Davenport University in Grand Rapids hosted the Business Professionals of America (BPA) collegiate State Leadership Conference (SLC) Saturday, Feb. 7, and it was a very exciting evening for the Bay College/LSSU Regional Center SPA student club. Fourteen students made the trip to Grand Rapids to compete in their respective events. All 14 members finished in the top three places of their events, qualifying each of them to compete at the National Leadership Conference to be held in Nashville, Tenn. on May 6 through 10.

Leading the way was Gabriel Viau, BPA club president, earning a first place in Contemporary Issues; second place in both Management, Marketing and Human Resources Concepts and Project Management Concepts; and third place in Administrative Support Concepts.

Gracelyn Wiles, BPA club vice president, took second in Interview Skills.

Landon “Marcy” Dugree, BPA club secretary, took first in Digital Communication & Design Concepts.

Haylee Gatien, BPA club treasurer, took second in Human Resource Management and third in Entrepreneurship.

Jake Poquette took second place in Prepared Speech.

Hunter Robinson took first in Advanced Interview Skills.

Riley Rebholz took first in Health Administration Concepts.

Haylee Gordon received second place for her performance in Financial Math & Analysis Concepts and a third-place finish in Health Administration Concepts.

Matthew Keast placed first in Prepared Speech.

Finally, all four of Bay/LSSU’s teams earned first in their respective events:

Financial Analyst Team: Connor Howes, Nicholas Chaillier and Andrew Lord

Small Business Management Team: Hunter Robinson and Jake Poquette

Podcast Team: Payton Saari and Riley Rebholz

Video Production Team: Marcy Dugree, Wyatt Groleau and Matthew Keast

“This trip was truly memorable, not just for me, but for everyone who attended,” said Gatien. “With 14 of us sitting in the crowd and cheering each other on, it felt like we could do anything. Watching in anticipation as each event’s top finishers were called was something I don’t think any of us will forget. Seeing all 14 of us finish top three in our respective events was truly so amazing, and I was filled with so much joy and pride as I saw everyone standing before me. I know how hard each one of us worked for those places, and seeing our hard work pay off meant something words can’t explain.”

Officially formed in 1966 as the Office Education Association (OEA), BPA has a strong history as a student organization that contributes to the preparation of global professionals through the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic and technological skills for students at the middle, Secondary and Post-secondary levels.

For the past 50-years, BPA has worked to serve as an innovator in Career and Technical Education, providing its members with opportunities for growth through education, competition, community service and personal development.

To help sponsor the Bay College student club’s travel to national competition or simply ask questions, people may contact Gatien at haylee.gatien@baycollege.edu or (906)295-1769 or Viau at gabe.viau@baycollege.edu or (906)280-8348.

To learn more about BPA, people may visit https://bpa.org/.