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Business Professionals of America

Business Professionals of America (BPA) is a career and technical student organization that is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Officers

Every Business Professionals of America chapter has presiding officers for the national organization, state associations, and local chapters. They all share and carry out similar tasks at the corresponding levels. Additionally, national virtual membership is open to any Middle Level, Secondary, or Post-secondary student in a state not currently chartering a stand-alone school chapter or virtual chapter. National virtual chapter members are able to go straight into national levels of competition.

At the national level, the national officers are collectively referred to as the Executive Council. They represent the national organization at various conferences and meetings during their term and have the opportunity to make recommendations to the National Board of Trustees.

The Executive Council for the Secondary Division is composed of up to six officer positions, including

  • President
  • Vice President
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Historian
  • Parliamentarian

The Executive Council for the Post-secondary Division is composed of up to four officer positions, including

  • President
  • Vice President
  • Secretary/Treasurer
  • Parliamentarian

Philanthropy

BPA also collaborates during conferences to raise money for differing honorable causes including the following:

  • Miracle Minute (Continuous): During a fast paced, one minute long Charity event, BPA alumni collects donations from every chapter involved at the conference, raising money for the Special Olympics.
  • Special Olympics Chain of Love (Continuous): During NLC registration, members are given the option to donate an extra dollar to be contributed to a link in the Special Olympics Chain of Love. This event is not restricted to purely NLC, as it has also been done at several FLC & SLC events.
  • Cans for a Cause (2025): To provide relief for the up-incoming hurricanes in Florida, BPA will be running a food drive at the 2025 NLC, collecting non-perishable items for the Second Harvest Food Bank.
  • Business Clothes Drive (2024): To help all students experience business related events, BPA collected professional and business casual attire at the 2024 NLC, then proceeded to donate all clothing to the Chicago Public Schools.

Types of awards

BPA rewards members in three categories:

  • Competitive Events: Members are rewarded for high placement in competitive events using the Workplace Skills Assessment Program (WSAP), preparing students for success in the business world by developing skills in areas such as finance, IT, and computer applications.
  • BPA Cares Awards: Members can apply or nominate others for awards in the areas of Service Learning, Special Recognition, and Professional Awards.
  • Torch Awards: Members are rewarded for excellence in seven categories, Citizenship; Leadership; Love, Hope, and Faith; Knowledge; Cooperation; and Friendship.

Leadership conferences

There are several levels of competition held at conferences and competition advancement is sought at each level in events referred to in the awards section.

  • Regional Leadership Conference (RLC) or District Leadership Conference (DLC)
  • State Leadership Conference (SLC)
  • National Leadership Conference (NLC)

Many regions, districts, or states opt to also arrange Fall Leadership Conferences in which there is no competition. These conferences are usually less formal than at RLC/DLC, SLC, and NLC instead often focusing on workshops over areas such as social media etiquette, proper professional dress, public speaking, etc.

The inaugural Student Leadership Summit was held in 2023 in Oklahoma City.

National Leadership Conference

Every year BPA hosts a National Leadership Conference (NLC) with more than 6,000 students from across the nation. Student members vie for top honors in more than 100 competitive events, receive awards for chapter and individual achievements, participate in service activities, attend leadership workshops, and network with peers and business professionals.

Past National Leadership Conference Locations

Future National Leadership Conference Locations

History

Business Professionals of America was formed in 1966 as the Office Education Association (OEA).

References

External links