Business Professionals of America
|
BPA logo | |
| Motto | Today’s students. Tomorrow’s business professionals. |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1966 |
| Type | Youth organization |
| Legal status | Intra-Curricular Non-profit organization |
| Headquarters | Columbus, Ohio |
Region served |
 United States |
Membership | Over 43,000 (More than 2,300 chapters) in 23 States and Puerto Rico |
National Presidents | Drew Mammel (Secondary), Andrea Leal (Post-Secondary) |
| Website | http://www.bpa.org |
Formerly called |
List
|
Business Professionals of America (BPA) is a career and technical student organization that is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. BPA aims to develop leadership, academic, and technological skills in the workplace among students and leaders within the community. BPA's colors are navy blue, tan, and red.[1]
At the beginning of meetings or other events, BPA members recite their pledge: "We are met in a spirit of friendship and goodwill as we prepare for careers in a world-class workforce. We work together to develop professionalism and leadership through Business Professionals of America and pledge our loyalty to our nation."[1]
Officers at National, State, and Chapter Levels
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 all levels.[2]
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.[3]
- BPA Cares Awards: Members can apply or nominate others for awards in the areas of Service Learning, Special Recognition, and Professional Awards.[4]
- Torch Awards: Members are rewarded for excellence in seven categories such as "Patriotism," "Leadership," "Love, Hope, and Faith," "Knowledge," "Cooperation," and "Friendship".[5]
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.[6]
National Leadership Conference
Every year BPA hosts a National Leadership Conference (NLC) with nearly 6,000 students from across the nation. At NLC, students compete in over 71 competitive events with students from across the United States.[7] The 2016 National Leadership Conference took place in Boston, Massachusetts from May 5 to May 9.[8]
History of Business Professionals of America
Business Professionals of America was formed in 1966 as the Office Education Association (OEA). Note that information retrieved below was accessed at http://www.bpa.org/information/history.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1963 | Vocational Education Act was passed. The need for a student organization for students enrolled in career/technical office/business programs was recognized. |
| 1964 | American Vocational Association conducted a study of 43 states indicating that 67% of the state vocational education supervisors wanted a career/technical youth group for students in office/business programs. |
| 1965 | Another study confirms the ’64 study findings; State supervisors meet to develop guidelines. |
| 1966 | In July, the Vocational Office Education Clubs of America (VOECA) was formed by the states of Iowa, Kansas, and Wisconsin. In August, VOECA convened a meeting of youth group representatives to decide the most effective means to implement the office occupations youth group. After intensive effort, articles of incorporation were filed for the Office Education Association (OEA). The first three states to affiliate were Iowa, Kansas, and Wisconsin. |
| 1971 | A national office was established for the Office Education Association in Columbus, Ohio, and the Board of Trustees approved the Alumni Division. |
| 1973 | The first full-time Executive Director of OEA was employed. |
| 1982 | The present National Center at 5454 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio was purchased. |
| 1983 | Dedication ceremonies for the new National Center were conducted in July. |
| 1984 | Board of Trustees commissioned the Market One firm of Columbus, Ohio to do a marketing study of the OEA. The resulting long-range marketing plan recommended reform of the national image of the OEA. |
| 1988 | Image reform recommendations of the marketing study were implemented—the OEA became Business Professionals of America. |
| 1992 | The National Center is paid off and the mortgage is burned in a ceremony at the National Leadership Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. |
| 1998-2002 | Delaware, Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas pilot a New BPA Middle Level program. |
| 2002 | The Middle Level Program was approved by the Board of Trustees. |
| 2003 | The Middle Level Program was approved by BPA Corporate. The BPA Middle Level Division is born. |
| 2004 | Middle Level Division members participate in the National Leadership Conference. |
| 2006 | BPA celebrates its 40th birthday. |
| 2009 | The first rescheduling of a National Leadership Conference was in Dallas, Texas. This rescheduling was due to the H1N1 Influenza. |
| 2010 | The BPA pledge is changed from “We are met in a spirit of friendship and goodwill as we prepare for productive lives in business and office careers...” to "We are met in a spirit of friendship and goodwill as we prepare for careers in a world-class workforce...” |
| 2012 | First Walk for Special Olympics held at the 2012 National Leadership Conference in Chicago, IL. |
| 2013 | National virtual competitions introduced online. |
| 2015 | First BPA Day of Service held at the 2015 National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, CA. Over 3,800 service activities were completed during this event. |
| 2016 | BPA Celebrates five decades of student achievement with its 50-Year Anniversary in Boston, MA. |
References
- 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-09-01. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
- ↑ "BPA: Officer Duties | Northeast Technology Center-Kansas BPA | BPA.org". www.bpa.org. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
- ↑ http://www.ctsos.org/ctsos/business-professionals-of-america/
- ↑ http://www.bpa.org/service/bpacares
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-09-01. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-28. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
- ↑ http://www.bpa.org/nlc
- ↑ http://www.bpa.org/nlc/futurenlcs