Westwood High School Business Professionals of America award winners are shown with Michigan BPA State Director Maurice Henderson. From the left are: Jillian Koski, Kalle Keranen, Henderson, Allyson Poirier and Allyana Grochowski. (Photo courtesy of Westwood High School)

ISHPEMING — Four Westwood High School students won seven top 10 awards, including a national championship, at the recent Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference, “Go Beyond Your Limits,” in Dallas.

Over 6,000 delegates attended the event, said Ronalyn Arsenau, business educator and BPA adviser at Westwood.

National winners were: Jillian Koski, first place in Advanced Office Systems and Procedures, fourth place in Legal Office Procedures and fifth place in Administrative Support Concepts; Kalle Keranen, second place in Legal Office Procedures and third place in Advanced Word Processing; Allyson Poirier, second place in Basic Office Systems and Procedures; and Allyana Grochowski, seventh place in Advanced Office Systems and Procedures.

“We could not be prouder of this group of students, who have worked incredibly hard to prepare to be successful,” Arsenau said in an email. “They are wonderful young people.”

In addition to the conference activities and competitions, she said students visited the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, were given a tour of the American Airlines Center by Dallas Mavericks’ exec and Westwood alumnus Ryan Mackey, were treated to Texas barbecue and given a tour of the city by former Marquette resident David Desjardins, and visited the Fort Worth Stockyards and the Dallas Farmers Market.

“My experience in Texas for BPA was unlike any other time I have competed,” Koski said in an email. “It was so great to finally get to go to a national competition in person, as we were able to do so many cool things. Although I was very excited to win a national championship last year, it felt even better to win this year when I could go up on stage and be there to accept my award.

“It was nice to spend time with my friends and my advisers, who I would not have been there without. We had so much fun touring Dallas and this is a trip I will never forget.”

In an email, Keranen said the group represented the school and the Upper Peninsula well.

“BPA Nationals was an experience both memorable and exciting,” Keranen said. “The entire trip was a blast, from our competitions to spending time in the city.

“The best part about it all is the fact that all four of us made it on stage in the top 10. We were able to represent Westwood and the U.P. well, and this is thanks to our amazing advisers, Mrs. Arseneau and Ms. (Westwood adviser Sabina) Villar, who have so selflessly taught and led us to success.”