Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
MELROSE — A group of Melrose Municipal Schools students have qualified to attend the 2017 Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference in Orlando.
School officials said Zach Perkins, Ethan Wright, Hannah Wofford, Mackenzie Perkins, Rebecca Rush, Kiki Roybal and Brette Devaney will join thousands of students from across the country in gathering May 10-14 to compete, showcase their business skills and develop their leadership acumen.
“This organization has been around for many years and helps students with career and technical concepts,” said Melrose Municipal Schools Superintendent Jamie Widner, whose district carries the distinction of being the sole representative to attend the confab from Curry County. “Entrepreneurship is a major component of the Business Professionals of America (BPA). In order to qualify for nationals, students must win at the state level.”
BPA officials said the National Leadership Conference will offer four days of competitions, leadership development, workshops, national officer elections and tours.
Widner said BPA is an organization that helps students develop necessary skills for their future, serving as one of three career and technical student organizations at Melrose High School, joining Future Farmers of America and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.
“We have worked really hard to keep all three going, even through the budget cuts,” he said. “And we truly believe it is important to have these opportunities available to our students.”
Officially formed in 1966 as the Office Education Association (OEA), officials said BPA has a strong history as a student organization that contributes to the preparation of global professionals through the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic and technological skills for students at the middle, secondary and post-secondary levels.
“The National Leadership Conference is a culmination of the hard work and effort put in by our members throughout the year,” BPA’s Chair of the Board Judith McKinstry said.
