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What is Business Professionals of America?
Business Professionals of America is a national career and technical student organization composed of state associations and local chapters serving members pursuing careers in business and information technology occupations. BPA provides opportunities to develop leadership skills, grow personally and professionally, and compete utilizing career related competencies. Involvement in Business Professionals of America enhances social awareness, civic responsibility, and business communication skills.
Divisions of BPA
College/Post-Secondary: For post-secondary (one-year, two-year, baccalaureate, or post-baccalaureate) students enrolled in initial, refresher, or upgrading business, career technical, business education and career or related education programs.
High School/Secondary: For high school students enrolled in initial, refresher, or upgrading business, career technical, and career or related education programs. Associate: For students enrolled in initial, refresher, or upgrading business, career technical, and career or related education programs for special populations.
Middle-Level: For middle school students enrolled in initial, refresher, or upgrading business, career technical, and career or related education programs.
Alumni/Professional: For former active members of any student division and professionals supportive of Business Professionals of America.
Mission Statement of Business Professionals of America
The mission of Business Professionals of America is to contribute to the preparation of a world-class workforce through the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic, and technological skills.
Vision Statement
Business Professionals of America will be a cohesive agent in the worldwide networking of education, business, and industry. Business Professionals of America will be the leading student organization in preparing a world-class workforce. Business Professionals of America will set a standard of excellence for career and technical student organizations.
What does Massachusetts Business Professionals of America do?
Massachusetts BPA coordinates the State Officer Team, Fall and State Leadership Conferences, Advisory Board meetings and other social and community service opportunities. The state association presents the Statesman Award for achievement in the Torch Awards Program. Other state services include state officers speaking to local chapters, publication of a state newsletter, and coordination of travel and housing for national conferences.
- Special Recognition Awards/Contests: Massachusetts provides its’ own special recognition awards to members: Community Service Award, State Pin Design Contest, Writing Contest, and Cover Design Contest. Students have the chance to show their creativity by creating a design for the state pin, the cover of the state program, or by writing an essay related with the theme for the year. In addition, chapters are recognized for their contribution to the community by highlighting a special service project and presenting it to the state.
- Fall Leadership Conference (FLC): The Fall Leadership Conference (FLC) is an opportunity for local chapter officers and leaders to meet together in a professional business setting working together to develop leadership skills. The Massachusetts State Officer team prepare presentations and interactive workshops dealing with communications and team building skills, competitive events and the theme for the year. In past years the themes have centered on financial literacy, civic responsibility and business ethics. Advisors meet together to discuss state and national trends in the business education, review the Workplace Skills Assessment Program, available member oportunites and share best practices. Also, planning begines for the State and National Leadership Conferences.
- State Leadership Conference (SLC): The State Leadership Conference is a 3 day event in March. Students have the opportunity to compete in the Workplace Skills Assessment Program, attend workshops presented by the State Officer Team and alumni, intern with the State Association, elect the State Officers for the upcoming year, attend a Special Event and a dance, and take part in the awards presentation.
- The role of the National organization and the National Leadership Conference (NLC): The national association coordinates all national programs, conferences, publications, and the competitive events program. Several special recognition awards which are non-competitive are offered to encourage local member involvement in association and community activities and to provide recognition for the achievement of the member and/or chapter. The National Special Recognition Awards are as follows: Air Force Recruiting Salute Award (Secondary and Associate chapters only,) American Red Cross Award, BPA Marketing and Public Relations , Chapter Activities Award of Excellence, Community Action, Entrepreneurship Exploration, Hall of Fame and Outstanding Service Award, Member Recruiter, Merit Scholar, National Center Capital Improvements Campaign, Safety Awareness (including Drug Awareness/Anti-Violence Awareness), Special Olympics (Business Professionals of America’s national service project), The Professional Cup, the Quality Chapter Distinction Award, and the Torch Awards Program. The National Association coordinates the National Leadership Conference (NLC) which is 4 days in length and is held annually during the last week of April or the first two weeks of May. It provides keynote speakers, election of national officers, national level competitive events, tours, entertainment, and award presentations.
