After a strong showing at the 53rd annual BPA State Leadership Conference in Indianapolis last month, members of Hamilton Heights High School Business Professionals of America (BPA) Chapter were looking forward to the National Leadership Conference.
At the state conference, of the Chapter’s 164 members, 133 attended and 54 qualified to attend the National Leadership Conference in National Harbor, Md., in May. In addition, two of its members were elected to the State Officer Leadership Team, Katie Smith (Vice President of Administration) and Miranda Hirl (Vice President of Communication). Nick Smith received Chapter All-Star and was recognized.
With the current state of the events, the national conference was canceled. The group was disappointed, especially the senior members. This would be the last time to compete at BPA nationals.
“These students seem to understand the global magnitude of this health crisis and are able to maintain a healthy perspective of the times we are in,” said Julie Oelschlager, advisor and Business Teacher, who has been at the helm of this organization at Heights for eight years. “Being a part of BPA expands their horizons in many ways and helps them see the bigger picture. They meet so many people through their involvement in the organization, develop lifelong friendships, and countless memories. They also build a strong foundation for essential skills such as leadership, public speaking, and networking that help in a professional setting.”
“Furthermore,” Oelschlager continued, “BPA provides opportunities to fuel a healthy competitive spirit and inspire students to strive to be their best. These exercises and activities push members to work hard and gain priceless rewards. Based on what I have seen these students achieve over the past four years, I feel confident they will do very well after high school. We have 34 amazing seniors who will be graduating this year. They were as important to BPA as BPA was to their overall high school experience. They will be missed and we wish them all the best ahead.”
Some members of Hamilton Heights Business Professionals of America (BPA) Chapter proudly display awards received at the state leadership conference in March. (Front row, from left) Alaina Stohler, Chloe Bontreger and Hailey Champion. (Back row, from left) Madyson Hunt, Grace Gellinger, Jenn Houser, Julie Oelschlager (advisor), Nick Smith and Liam Huss. (Photo provided)
Heights BPA 2020 graduates include: Tyler Andis, Jordyn Beck, Chloe Bontreger, Jake Brinker, Hailey Champion, Meredith Diller, Payton Dissett, Riley Engle, Ethan Hall, Caitlin Hartwick, Alex Hewitt, Lindsey Hillard, Madyson Hunt, Blaine Inman, Chloe Jones, Lucy Jones, Gloria Merrell, Faith Pinegar, Karlee Purkey, Ansley Reid, Bayleigh Runner, Blake Sanford, Nick Smith, Max Stallsmith, Luke Stohler, Madeline Teal, Payton Tindal, Mitchell Walbolt, Blake Webel, Autumn Whitson, Bobby Williams, Sarah Wolfe, and Dylan Zachary. Check out Heights BPA Senior of the Day Feature posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Looking to the future and beyond the COVID-19 era, several seniors took a few minutes to share the impact of their involvement in Hamilton Heights BPA and what it has given them.
Mitchell Walbolt, a proud four-year member of Heights BPA chapter said, “Even though our time with BPA was cut short, the effort we put into our events this year, and the past four years, was not wasted. The skills that we learned and developed as well as the certifications and awards we earned together through HHHS BPA grew us into being confident in becoming business professionals in the future. I am extremely thankful for the time that our sponsor, Mrs. O (as she is fondly referred), invested in me to assure that what I learned in high school could be applied to my future.”
“Ever since I joined BPA my junior year, I have been passionate about this club,” recalled Lucy Jones. “I made it to 2019 National Leadership Conference for my event as a first-year member and that has been the biggest accomplishment of my BPA journey. BPA has allowed me to develop an interest in the marketing field which is what I plan to study next year at IUPUI’s Kelley School of Business. BPA has also given me the opportunity to gain new leadership and presentation skills that I’ll take with me as I begin my career in business. Despite not being able to attend Nationals again this year, I’m proud of my hard work and dedication to this club. BPA has done so much for me, and for that, I am thankful!”
Chloe Bontreger, a part of the Presentation Management Team and Fundamental Accounting, was also excited about this year’s National Leadership Conference. “I was sad to see it was cancelled; however, the past four years in BPA taught me so much. It helped show me my passion! I am now going to Indiana University as a direct admit to the Kelley School of Business! Thank you, BPA!”
About Business Professionals of America
BPA is the leading Career Technical Student Organization for students pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields. BPA, with more than 45,000 members hosts numerous leadership conferences throughout the year. Indiana BPA has close to 2,500 members in 87 chapters.
Members of Hamilton Heights Business Professionals of America (BPA) Chapter 2019-20 include Kelsie Albright, Tyler Andis, Ellie Arrowood, Ogden Aspy, Alayna Baber, Jordyn Beck, Sarah Biggs, Chloe Bontreger, Gavin Bramel, Jake Brinker, Kaylie Burke, Miriam Burke, Stella Callahan, Grant Cavanaugh, Hailey Champion, Daniel Collier, Claire Cooper, Camden Crawford, Brooklynn Dill, Meredith Diller, Isis Dillman, Payton Dissett, Paige Doucette, Riley Engle, Cassidy Felger, C.J.Fettig, Chloe Flanders, Ashlyn Fletcher, Clay Forrer, Grant Forrer, Jordan Fryman, Grace Gellinger, Collin Gilmore, Jonathan Glenn, Margaret Gollner, Emma Hall, Ethan Hall, Gregory Hall, Wyatt Hardebeck, Caitlin Hartwick, Kate Hayes, Aiden Helm, Ashley Heniser, Devonte Henson, Kenzie Hess, Alex Hewitt, Lindsey Hillard, Sydney Hillard, Miranda Hirl, Faith Hittle, Gage Hodson, Jenn Houser, Randy Hubbell, Grace Hunt, Madyson Hunt, Landon Hurley, Liam Huss, Mady Hutcherson, Blaine Inman, Chloe Jones, Lance Jones, Levi Jones, Lucy Jones, Nate Jozsa, Destiny Kline, Colin Kuhn, Amber Lane, Victoria Lopez, Evie Lybrook, Gabrella Lyons, Jake Martin, Maddi Martin, Owen Martin, Sydney Massicotte, Joe Mayo, Sam Mayo, Jackson McCullough, Kaitlyn McGill, Gloria Merrell, Joshua Meyer, Preston Miller, Drew Monnin, Jack Monnin, Edward Morris, Joseph Morris, Molly Newman, Jane Pache, Preston Pearson, Jenna Peterson, Faith Pinegar, Abbie Pisano, Kylie Porter, Lilly Pruitt, Karlee Purkey, Ansley Reid, Pierce Renbarger, Morgan Reynolds, Kaylee Rhoton, Alex Rickey, Anna Rickey, Vinnie Rowland, Bayleigh Runner, Josh Russell, Carlos Salgado Quintana, Adrianna Sams, Blake Sanford, Kaleigh Scott, Hannah Smallwood, Katie Smith, Nick Smith, Briana Spencer, Stephanie Spicer, Max Stallsmith, Rebekah Steffen, Alaina Stohler, Luke Stohler, Devyn Taylor, Madeline Teal, Payton Tindal, Allison Tyner, Mitchell Walbolt, Emily Ward, Raegan Ward, Elianna Watson, Blake Webel, Colin Weber, Autumn Whitson, Evan Willamson, Bobby Williams, Sarah Wolfe, Ben Wolfgang, Olivia Yott and Dylan Zachary. (Photo provided)