ALMA — Alma College students delivered an exceptional performance at the Business Professionals of America (BPA) State Leadership Conference in February, earning 30 top-four finishes across a broad range of business, technology and leadership events.

Under the guidance of Andy Singer, professor of business at Alma College and chapter advisor, students captured 10 first-place awards, six second-place finishes, 12 third-place honors and two fourth-place awards, marking one of the chapter’s strongest showings in recent years.

“It was phenomenal,” Singer said. “During the awards ceremony, it felt like we kept hearing ‘Alma College’ over and over again. The students were cheering each other on as they walked across the stage. It was an incredible moment for our chapter.”

The awards span finance, law and ethics, marketing, human resources, cybersecurity, programming, web design, database management and leadership events — reflecting the interdisciplinary strength of Alma’s BPA chapter.

Singer emphasized that BPA offers far more than competition experience.

“Students develop technical expertise, but they also learn how to present themselves professionally, collaborate as a team, prepare for high-level presentations and compete in a professional environment,” Singer said. “Those people skills — how you communicate, how you dress at work, how you carry yourself — are just as important as technical knowledge.”

Several students now qualify for the BPA National Leadership Conference, May 6–10 in Nashville, where Alma College expects to send seven to eight competitors.

Singer encourages students from all majors to consider joining the chapter.

“BPA is open to everyone,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to build professional skills, network across disciplines and represent Alma College at a very high level.”

First-Place Winners

Alma students earning first place honors were:

  • Laurence Cahill – Banking and Finance
  • Jake Lasceski – Business Law and Ethics
  • Hiba Belhaj – Computer Programming Concepts (Open)
  • Chloe Anderson – Ethics and Professionalism
  • Victoria Posey – Parliamentary Procedure Concepts (Open)
  • Chris Ulysse – Presentation Individual
  • Jake Lasceski – Project Management Concepts (Open)
  • Hiba Belhaj – SQL Database Fundamentals
  • Rayane Debbarh – Fundamentals of Web Design
  • Chloe Anderson – Management, Marketing and Human Resources Concepts

Second-Place Finishers

  • Akwasi Asare – Advanced Interview Skills
  • Victoria Posey – Business Law and Ethics
  • Khai Le – Computer Security
  • Chloe Anderson – Digital Marketing Concepts
  • Than Vo – Integrated Office Applications
  • Chloe Anderson and Jake Lasceski – Small Business Management Team

Third-Place Finishers

  • Khai Le – Computer Network Technology
  • Chloe Anderson – Contemporary Issues
  • Khai Le – Device Configuration and Troubleshooting
  • Jake Lasceski – Digital Marketing Concepts
  • Jake Lasceski – Ethics and Professionalism
  • Widad Hajji – Financial Math & Analysis Concepts
  • Victoria Posey – Human Resource Management
  • Chris Ulysse – Interview Skills
  • Victoria Posey – Legal Office Procedures
  • Jake Lasceski – Management, Marketing & Human Resources Concepts
  • Chloe Anderson – Meeting & Event Planning Concepts
  • Hiba Belhaj – Parliamentary Procedure Concepts

Fourth-Place Finishers

  • Moatlhodi Vo – Financial Analyst Team
  • Victoria Posey – Health Administration Concepts

Alma’s BPA chapter teaches students to improve their leadership and occupational-related skills and learn to cooperate with business colleagues. Learn more about the Alma College business program.