ANAHEIM, Calif. (OBV) – Student members of Oklahoma’s Business Professionals of America brought home a slew of awards from the BPA National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, Calif.
Around 430 Oklahomans participated in the National Leadership Conference in late April, which had the largest turnout in the conference’s history, according to Paxton Cavin, Oklahoma BPA adviser at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.
The Oklahoma youngsters won more than 100 awards during the conference.
“Oklahoma BPA seized every opportunity while in Anaheim for the 2023 National Leadership Conference. Not only did our Oklahoma BPA members perform well in their competitive events, but we also had a notable presence in the leadership opportunities and community service efforts that were offered,” Cavin said. “Our association was one of the few to be involved in every student division including middle level, secondary and postsecondary, which is a direct reflection of the Oklahoma CareerTech System.”
The Oklahomans made their presence known with five first place secondary winners, 17 first place postsecondary winners, four top 10 middle level finalists, 19 top 10 secondary finalists, 77 top 10 postsecondary finalists, 16 Ambassador Torch Award winners, eight BPA Cares qualifying chapters, 14 National Quality chapters and one bronze level Presidential Volunteer Service Award winner.
Oklahoma BPA won the event’s traveling postsecondary cup.
Also, 37 Oklahoma BPA advisers were recognized for five or more years of service.
BPA is a CareerTech student organization affiliated with CareerTech’s business and information technology education. CareerTech’s six other student organizations include DECA (marketing education), FCCLA (family and consumer sciences education), FFA (agricultural education), HOSA (health careers education), SkillsUSA (trade and industrial education) and Technology Student Association (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
