From left to right is BPA club president Griffin Johnson, Marcy Dugree, Jake Poquette, Gabriel Belanger, secretary Hunter Robinson, Isaac Carlson, vice president Madelyn Wilson, and treasurer Sarah Myers. (Photo courtesy of Bay College)

ESCANABA, IRON MOUNTAIN — Bay College and Lake Superior State University’s Regional Center student club, Business Professionals of America, competed in the 2025 BPA National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida this past week.

The conference, held from May 7 to 11, allows students to compete in events where they can showcase their workplace skills and knowledge of business education. All eight of the competitors from the Bay College/LSSU BPA chapter placed in the top ten of their respective events.

“The 2025 NLC was once again a tremendous success for our team. Every member had the opportunity to compete at the highest level in their events and step onto the big stage. I couldn’t be prouder of everyone as this achievement was well deserved, a true testament to the dedication and hard work everyone put into getting here,” said BPA club President Griffin Johnson in a press release. Johnson, a Bay College graduate and club president for the past three years, took first place finishes in Human Resource Management and Contemporary Issues, a category where he’s a repeat national champion. Griffin also took second place in his third event, Ethics and Professionalism, and has also competed in Anaheim, California in 2023 and Chicago, Illinois in 2024.

BPA club’s vice president, Madelyn Wilson, took first place in Prepared Speech. Alongside team member and BPA club treasurer Sarah Myers, the duo also took first place in the Small Business Management Team event. Wilson will be attending Michigan State University, and Myers the University of Michigan, this upcoming fall.

Gabriel Belanger, who is the first Bay College-Iron Mountain student to compete at NLC, finished first place in the categories of Administrative Support Concepts and Digital Communication and Design Concepts. He also took third place finishes in Computer Security and Linux Operating System Fundamentals, as well as a top ten finish in Computer Programming Concepts. Belganer will be attending Michigan Technological University this coming fall.

Club secretary Hunter Robinson took second place in Interview Skills and will be returning to Bay College in the fall.

Isaac Carlson had top ten finishes in five events – Contemporary Issues, Ethics in Professionalism, Prepared Speech, Healthcare Administration Concepts, and Project Management Concepts – and will be attending Bay College in the fall.

Jake Poquette will also be attending Bay College in the fall, and he placed in the top ten for Public Speaking.

Marcy Dugree placed in the top ten for the Presentation Individual and Digital Communications and Design Concepts categories. She will be attending Bay College in the fall.

“Leading for three years as the club president was not just about steering the ship, it was about forging lasting connections and leaving a meaningful impact on the those around me. I could not be any more grateful for having had that opportunity,” said Griffin when reflecting on his three years as BPA president.

More information on BPA and Bay College can be found online at baycollege.edu/students/student-life/clubs-activities.php.