Throughout Eagle High, there are many different clubs, each with their own identity and community behind it. Few of these clubs, however, teach applicable, real-world skills the way Business Professionals of America, BPA, for short, does.
Like National Honor Society, or NHS, BPA is a national organization that is divided into chapters across the United States. According to the BPA website, bpa.org, the organization focuses on helping members develop invaluable skills through opportunities in learning, professional growth and service.
BPA members are able to work in several categories that prepare them for different types of careers after high school. These categories include business administration, finance as well as accounting, information technology, video production and more.
BPA also focuses heavily on involvement in one’s local community and school. At Eagle High, BPA achieves this in several ways.
“We did a Christmas wreath fundraiser; we did Rake Up Boise and as we do that, we try to find things students would be interested in,” said advisor Joseph Gossi.
Participating in these activities is vital for members who want to compete later in the BPA season. Members can also earn awards solely for their community service involvement.
In addition to service, members are allowed to compete in several different events based on their chosen category. These competitions range from group projects to individual tests. If a member performs well at the regional competition, they can advance to the state level, and from there, top competitors may qualify for the national competition.
Eagle High’s BPA club has participated in state competitions several times in the past and has even advanced to Nationals. This year is no different, as many groups and individual students have once again qualified for the state competition. One of these students is junior Hendric Voris.
“I heard back in middle school that there was more marketing I could do,” Voris said. “I was interested in marketing.”
Voris has been a part of BPA since his freshman year, making this his third year in the organization. He now competes individually in digital marketing concepts, and this year will not be his first time competing at the state level.
Voris is just one of many students who qualified for state, representing only one of the many categories of competition that BPA offers. For Voris and all the other competitors, the goal is to reach the national competition.
BPA at Eagle High offers students more than just another club to join. Through hands-on competitions, community involvement and career-focused learning, members gain real-world skills that prepare them for future success while proudly representing their school at both the state and national levels.
