NICC Business Professionals of America members compete at Spring Leadership Conference

Friday, February 21, 2020

Northeast Iowa Community College BPA Chapter also received the Quality Chapter Distinction award.

NICC DISTRICT—Five Northeast Iowa Community College students and members of Business Professionals of America received honors at the BPA Spring Conference in Des Moines on Feb. 16.

BPA Chapter members who competed include: Mellissa Bierman of New Hampton; Samantha White of Elkader; Emily Reicks of Fort Atkinson; Julia Schmidt of Elkader; and Shahlo Alikhonzoda of Elgin. 

All five members qualified within the top three places of the state competition, moving them on to the BPA National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. in May. At the state conference Emily Reicks was recognized with a Statesman Torch Award and Outstanding BPA Member Award. Northeast Iowa Community College BPA Chapter also received the Quality Chapter Distinction award. 

BPA advisor, Melissa Stewart, explains that the local NICC Business Professionals of America chapter is a student organization open to all students enrolled in a business, accounting, marketing or computer science.

“I am proud to have the members from this year's BPA chapter recognized for their hard work and achievements. These students took action on an opportunity that was provided to them and excelled both personally and professionally. In BPA we call this Giving Purpose to Potential,” said Stewart.

With 45,000 members in more than 1,800 chapters across 25 states and Puerto Rico, BPA is a co-curricular organization that supports business and information technology educators by offering co-curricular exercises based on national standards.