More than 210 high school students competed in the annual Region 4 Business Professionals of America (BPA) Conference hosted at the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids Campus, Wednesday, Feb. 3.

Students from Anoka High School, Blaine High School, Brooklyn Center High School, Cambridge-Isanti High School, Champlin Park High School, Coon Rapids High School and St. Michael-Albertville High School gathered for testing and competitions before 25 judges, several of whom were Anoka-Ramsey Business faculty members.

“The benefits to students are substantial,” says Laura BeMent, teacher at Anoka High School for 31 years, BPA Advisor and BPA Region Four Chairperson. “Students have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, network with other students with similar career aspirations, make business contacts and meet real world business professionals in areas that interest them.”

Fifty-six unique events and tests covered four business disciplines: Financial Services, Administrative Support, Information Technology and Marketing/Management/Human Resources.

“The Anoka-Ramsey Business division looks forward to hosting the Region 4 BPA Conference each year,” says college Business faculty member, Jerry Horazdovsky. “The extent of the business knowledge that the high school students bring to their events is quite impressive, and it is easy to see that the students and teachers have worked very hard to prepare for this day.”

Through individual and team events and test taking, students were ranked. The top five in individual tests, the top two in teams and the top three in judged events go to the state BPA conference in March in Minneapolis. From there, students may earn the opportunity to go to the national competition in Dallas in May.

For more information about Business-focused events at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, as well as business-related degrees, certificates and fast-track training, visit www.AnokaRamsey.edu.

More than 200 local high school students attended the Business Professionals of America Conference at Anoka-Ramsey Community College.  All the students were welcomed by Business Professionals of America officers (from left) Chrystle Hayes, Parliamentarian (Champlin Park High School); Ashley Campeau, Treasurer (Blaine High School); Amanda Young, Secretary (Blaine High School); Katie Claffey, Vice President (Champlin Park High School); and Felton Summerville, President (Champlin Park High School).