Students from Westwood High School are top finishers in the recent Business Professionals of America state competition. From left are BPA co-advisor Sabina Villar, Tristen Harsila, Natalie Prophet, Megan Marta, Kirsten LaMere, Rion Hansen, Aurora Lindstrom, Jillian Koski, Ally Poirier, Kambrie Duquette, Allie Grochowski, Sierrah Hallum, Emilee Hebert, Kalle Keranen, Addi Dunphy, Sophia Balzarini, Brad Luce, Daniel Ostola and teacher Ronalyn Arseneau. (Photo courtesy of BPA)

MARQUETTE — Westwood High School business students will compete for national awards at the Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference, “Go Beyond Your Limits,” in Dallas from May 3-9.

Seventeen WHS students competed, earning 13 awards at the recent State Leadership Conference in Grand Rapids, with six students winning awards that earned them the right to move on to national competition. National competitors will join students from across the U.S. to participate in national-level business skills competitions, workshops, and general sessions.

Ronalyn Arseneau is Westwood business educator and adviser for the school’s BPA chapter, along with co-adviser Sabina Villar.

“We had a relatively small group of students compete this year, after having two years with only virtual competitions, but this group excelled and we were proud of the way they represented themselves and our Westwood chapter at the state level,” Arseneau said in an email. “Students were involved in many activities in Grand Rapids, including Legacy Launchers (student professional workshops), a college fair, a BPA Olympics game night, a formal dinner session, networking with students from around the state, and, of course, competing in their individual events.”

She said they even had time for a successful experience while team-building at an “escape room.”

“The in-person experience of the BPA State Leadership Conference involves so much more than a virtual competition can provide, so we’re thankful to be able to participate this year,” Arseneau said.

Students who qualified for national competition now are involved in raising funds to offset the costs of travel to Dallas.

The organization’s activities and programs, she said, complement classroom instruction by giving students practical experience through application of the skills learned at school. BPA also contributes to the preparation of a world-class workforce through the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic and technological skills, she said.

The results from the State Leadership Conference are:

≤ Jillian Koski – first, Advanced Office Systems & Procedures; second, Legal Office Procedures; silver medal, Administrative Support Concepts; and bronze medal, Business Meetings Management;

≤ Kalle Keranen – first, Legal Office Procedures, and third, Advanced Word Processing;

≤ Allyson Poirier – first, Basic Office Systems & Procedures;

≤ Allyana Grochowski – second, Advanced Interview Skills, and third, Advanced Office Systems & Procedures;

≤ Addison Dunphy – second, Intermediate Word Processing;

≤ Sophia Balzarini – third, Extemporaneous Speech;

≤ Tristen Harsila – third, Administrative Support Team;

≤ Megan Marta – third, Administrative Support Team;

≤ Daniel Ostola – third, Administrative Support Team;

≤ Natalie Prophet – third, Administrative Support Team; and

≤ Bradley Luce – seventh, Fundamental Word Processing

Koski, Keranen, Poirier, Grochowski, Dunphy and Balzarini qualified to attend the National Leadership Conference in Dallas.

Allyana Grochowski said she had a great experience at the conference.

“We had a warm welcome back as a chapter after having two years of canceled and virtual conferences,” Grochowski said in an email. “My favorite part of it all was meeting new people face to face, and not through a computer screen.

“I was extremely nervous before the competition, but with the preparation I had done and confidence boosts from my chapter advisors and classmates, I placed in both of my events. I couldn’t have done it without their support.”

Poirier said she is in her first year in BPA.

“Going into the competition, I wasn’t super nervous, because I had been preparing for a long time,” she said in an email. “I figured that with all of the hard work I had put in, I would be close to placing for nationals, but I did not think I would take first in the state. I was surprised and very excited when I heard my name called for first place.

“As it is my first year in BPA, I had no idea what to expect. Everyone there was so welcoming, which also calmed my nerves. The best part was being able to see everything that I had been practicing and working towards come together and be worth something. I have learned so much and have met so many amazing people. I never thought that I would like BPA so much. I am thankful for BPA because it has helped me in meeting so many new people and developing so many new skills. I cannot wait to see what nationals has in store for me.”