Polaris Broadcasting & Video Production, Business Professional & Office Technology and Marketing & Entrepreneurship students recently competed in the Business Professionals of America (BPA) virtual competitions. Business Professionals of America (BPA) is the premier Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for middle, high school and college/university students preparing for careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields. BPA provides opportunities for growth through education, competitive events, leadership development and community service. The organization has more than 51,000 members in schools across the United States and beyond.
Eight Polaris students were invited to compete at the National BPA competition in Chicago, Illinois, on May 10-14, 2024. To qualify for nationals, students must place in the top 10 in their respective events. Below is a summary of the students who qualified to compete in Chicago:
Four Broadcasting & Video Production (located at Berea-Midpark High School) students took top 10 honors. Freshman, Sophia Solomon, competed in the Virtual Multimedia and Promotion Individual challenge. In this event, the students had to create a one to two-and-a-half-minute digital promotional video highlighting a local non-profit attempting to bring awareness to a new demographic. Sophia’s non-profit was Berea ARF (Animal Rescue Friends). Currently, they market to local businesses, but they would like to expand their marketing to local community members, including students.
Three Broadcasting & Video Production students, Pax Bodenmiller, freshman; Brooke Patton, sophomore; and Andrew Merritt, junior, placed in the top 10 in the Virtual Multimedia and Promotion Team Competition. In this event, the students had to host a three to five-minute cooking show for Click Productions featuring a new kitchen item of their choice. Team members were required to discuss the features, benefits and impact of how this item would help in the kitchen, including its pros and cons. Teams that advanced to round two had to present their project virtually and answer the judges' questions.
Four Polaris Business Professional & Office Technology students finished in the top 10 in the Financial Portfolio Management Team event. During this simulation, the students were given $100,000 to invest in stocks, mutual funds and/or bonds. The top 20 teams with the highest portfolio value were then invited to round two, which consisted of a presentation of their investment strategies. The Polaris team consisted of seniors, Jessica Wolanin, Olmsted Falls High School; Anya Dobos, Olmsted Falls High School; Rachel Delap, Olmsted Falls High School; and Addison Loescher, Fairview High School.
Congratulations and good luck at nationals!