95 STISD BPA students advance to State Leadership Conference

Ninety-five STISD high school students advance to the Texas Business Professionals of America (BPA) State Leadership Conference, to be held March 3-6, after qualifying at the Regional Leadership Conference held January 8-9. 

Qualifying representatives from South Texas ISD Health Professions (Health Professions) in Mercedes, South Texas ISD Science Academy (Science Academy) in Mercedes and South Texas ISD World Scholars (World Scholars) in Edinburg will compete virtually with other state qualifiers. 

Health Professions will have six competing teams and 15 students competing in individual events for an overall representation of 36. 

Science Academy will have seven competing teams and 14 students competing in individual events for an overall representation of 24. 

World Scholars will have eight competing teams and 21 students competing in individual events for an overall representation of 35.  

The state virtual competition will require certain team and individual events to compete “in-person” using a video conferencing program, while other events will require students to submit pre-recorded content for judging. 

Team events include: Administrative Support; Broadcast News Production; Computer Animation; Computer Programming Concepts; Economic Research; Financial Analyst; Global Marketing; Parliamentary Procedure; Podcast Production; Presentation Management Team; Small Business Management; Video Production and Website Design. 

Individual events include: Administrative Support Research Project; Administrative Support Concepts; Advanced Accounting; Advanced Interview Skills; Banking & Finance; Basic Office Systems & Procedures; Business Law & Ethics; Economic Research; Entrepreneurship; Extemporaneous Speech; Fundamental Accounting; Fundamental Desktop Publishing; Fundamentals Word Processing; Graphic Design Promotion; Health Administration Procedures; Health Insurance & Medical Billing; Human Resources Management; ICD-10-CM- Diagnostic Coding; Interview Skills; Legal Office Procedures; Medical Terminology; Payroll Accounting; Personal Financial Management; Prepared Speech; Presentation Management; Python Programing and Server Administration Using Microsoft. 

Not only does the district have a large number of students qualifying to compete within the state competition, but the district also has a sophomore member from Health Professions, Aleisha Martinez-Sandoval of Pharr, representing the district at the officer level. Martinez was elected Regional BPA President and will serve in this role for a one-year term.  

In addition, freshman member Lyann Villanueva from Science Academy found opportunities to showcase her graphic design skills through BPA competition, placing first in Graphic Design Promotion and winning both the Regional T-Shirt Design Contest and State Mask Design Contest. Villanueva is receiving $50 for each design contest, a free shirt and mask with their respective designs, and bragging rights.

According to the organization, Business Professionals of America is the premier CTSO (Career and Technical Student Organization) for students pursuing careers in business management, information technology, finance, office administration, health administration and other related career fields.