MCHS’s Business Professionals of America, or BPA, went to state in Oakbrook from Feb. 27 to Mar. 1.

MCHS went to state for its second year in a row. McHenry has had a BPA team for two years. The BPA team is run by Nicholas Valenzianos, Tim Kirk and Vanessa Kirk. 52 students from MCHS attended state this year.

“You either do a written test, or you do a presentation that you’ve worked on before,” Jakob Axelson, a senior at MCHS and member of BPA for two years says. “You get to spend time with your friends and stay in a hotel … it’s a really fun experience, I would recommend doing it.”

Seniors share how their experience in BPA for state, as well as how the club in general has shaped them as a person and why they have continued throughout the years. On the other hand, sophomores share their feelings on BPA as new members that plan to continue throughout the years.

“I’ve been doing BPA for about a year now,” Kasey Hawkins, sophomore student at MCHS and member of BPA says, “I first started BPA just to be with all my friends … but, it starting proving good skills for out of school and for any other life lessons you want to learn.”

“For BPA,” Hawkins says, “my event is called an extemporaneous speech, which is an unprepared speech that you do in front of a judge … you’re given a certain amount of time to create a presentation with just what you know.”

Other than having students involved, it is important for BPA to have leaders who care for and motivate their members to work their hardest and try their best to benefit their future.

“BPA gives kids a really good opportunity to practice their skills in front of actual business people,” Valenzianos, BPA sponsor and business teacher says. “It gives them an opportunity to network with other kids … it gives them an opportunity for scholarships and it’s a great resume and college app. builder that they participated or won a business competition on a national level.”