Mid-State students earn top nods at national leadership conference

Metro Wire Staff

Business students at Mid-State Technical College returned home with honors from a national conference.

Students from the school’s Business Professionals of America, Wisconsin chapter, earned top awards in the organization’s National Leadership Conference, held May 4-8 in Dallas, Texas.

Emily Tauschek, a business management student from Plover, is vice present of Mid-State’s BPA chapter. She took second place in entrepreneurship, second place in human resources management, and third place in fundamental word processing.

“My experience at the National Leadership Conference in Dallas was amazing,” she said. “I had so much fun getting to explore Dallas. I got to see the Dallas World Aquarium, walk for Special Olympics, and enjoy the Texas Hoe-Down, all while competing in Business Professionals of America.”

Tauschek said she’s never considered a career in human resources management before the competition.

“When I placed at nationals, I realized that these are good-paying jobs and that is what Mid-State prepares you for once you graduate college—to enter the workforce with your skills and credentials,” she said.

Mid-State BPA Club President Tara Chapman, of Tomah, also excelled at nationals. Chapman, also in the business management program, is also the secretary for the Wisconsin BPA State Association. She took third place in presentation management individual and seventh in interview skills.

Mid-State BPA Club Treasurer Rhonda Martinson, from Wisconsin Rapids, took fourth in fundamental word Processing. Martinson earned her Business Management Associate Degree in 2020, along with technical diplomas in human resources assistant, project management, and entrepreneurship. She is currently taking classes in the school’s health and wellness promotion program.

Also highlighted at the event but not in attendance were Debra Peltier, Mid-State BPA secretary, and Kristen Peltier. Both were recognized for completing the Student Certification Series Level 1. Mid-State’s BPA chapter also received a Quality Chapter Distinction Award and a BPA Marketing and Public Relations Award.

Sharon Behrens, an instructor in business technology, and BPA club advisor, this is the second time that Mid-State has participated in the national conference, but the first time they’ve attended in person.

“I’m just incredibly proud of our students and how well they represented Mid-State,” she said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to share such a memorable and potentially life-changing experience with them.”

BPA’s competitive events give students the opportunity to demonstrate workplace skills learned through business education curricula. The national conference brought together an estimated 6,000 delegates from across the country to vie for top honors in business, finance, technology, marketing, and health administration skills competitions; attend leadership and professional development workshops; receive awards for community service activities and elect BPA’s 2022–23 national student leadership team.

Founded in 1966, Business Professionals of America is the premier Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for middle, high school, and college students preparing for careers in business, finance, management information systems, and related fields. BPA provides members with opportunities for growth through education, competition, community service, and personal development. The organization has more than 35,000 members in 1,600 chapters across 25 states and Puerto Rico and an international presence in China, Haiti, and Peru. Learn more at www.bpa.org.

To learn more about Mid-State’s programs in the Business, Management, and Administration cluster, visit mstc.edu/programs.