By Renee Larr
Ten Zionsville Community High School students have advanced to the national round of the Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference. BPA is a club for students nationwide to develop leadership skills and network.
ZCHS sent 35 students to the state conference, held March 6 to 8 in Indianapolis.
“We had 10 students who qualified to the national level. Five of them were champions in their respective contests,” said Johnathan Grismore ZCHS business educator and BPA advisor.
Senior Madison McKinnon won first place in entrepreneurship for her business plan and pitch. She developed the plan over two years and had business professionals review and help revise it.
“For the presentation, I had several props and a live show,” McKinnon said. “I did a business plan for a bakery. It was called Madison Avenue Bakery, and I specialized in cake pops. I wanted it in Zionsville, so it was really on a local level.”
Senior Will Caldwell ranked second in the Human Resources Management category.
“For HR, we’re given a scenario and based upon that we have a 20-page manual we have to go through and solve the problem within the company,” Caldwell said. “We have about 20 minutes to prepare and then we give a 3- to 5-minute presentation in front of judges.”
The national leadership conference will take place May 6 to 9 in Boston. All 10 ZCHS students who advanced will compete against representatives from other states.
“The conference expands on different leadership opportunities but is also the national competition,” Grismore said. “Will will have to compete with a new case study, and Madison will have to present her plan against other state’s representatives.”
