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Stating their case |
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Thursday, 01 March 2007 |
By Dee Grenert Editor
CULVER — A few years ago, a group of middle schoolers grabbed Culver Community High School business teacher and Business Professionals of America (BPA) advisor Mike Schwartz’s attention.
Today, those students — now juniors and seniors — constitute the backbone of Culver Community’s flourishing BPA chapter.
In fact, 24 Culver BPA members advanced from the district competition in Warsaw — where they battled against 100 students from schools including Warsaw, Plymouth and NorthWood —to the state meet scheduled for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in Indianapolis. That number marks Culver’s largest contingent at the state contest.
“I had these kids in class when they were seventh and eighth graders,” Schwartz explained. “It wasn’t so much the keyboarding skills that I noticed as the caliber of kid. They all work hard and are successful. Most kids that are successful in one thing are successful in a lot of things.
“The other factor is team chemistry,” Schwartz added. “Someone told me if you don’t have good team chemistry, it doesn’t matter how good the individuals are, you’ll blow up the lab. These kids work well together. If you can surround yourself with good people, they’ll make you look good. That’s what I’ve done.”
So good that Culver is looking to send at least one representative to the nationals for the fourth straight year.
The top five state finishers in each category except those involving interviews qualify for the national meet in New York City. Only the top three competitors in interview categories advance to nationals.
“You have to be very careful,” Schwartz said. “Usually three mistakes result in a zero, or if you put the wrong number under the wrong column, it will mess up an entire table. Speed is an asset because it allows time for proofing.”
Senior Mallory Master, who won the integrated office applications category that tests proficiency in a variety of spreadsheet and database software at the district meet and wound up third in advanced office systems, qualified for nationals each of the past two years.
“Mallory’s drug me all over the country,” Schwartz joked. “She went to California as a sophomore and Florida last year.”
Master, who served as district president last year, also started something of a Culver tradition. Culver’s Lyndsey Fisher is this year’s district president, with fellow BPA member Kylie Gunder slated to occupy the office next year.
“(BPA) is the thing in high school I’ve learned the most in,” Master noted. “It’s the thing you look forward to. About a month before district when you start preparing for district, you look forward to district. After district you look forward to state. After state you look forward to nationals. I’m going to miss it next year.”
Fisher, who landed first place in graphic design promotion and second in advanced interview skills at district, is now vying for election to one of six statewide BPA offices.
“It’s kind of like stepping up another level,” Fisher said of her campaign. “I have to give a speech in front of 2,500 people. I have campaign material, posters and I’m using Swedish fish since my last name is Fisher.”
Fisher also converted her BPA experience into a part-time layout job with Culver Lodging. That in turn helped her create a portfolio for her graphic design promotion and beefed up her resume in the advanced interview skills where she goes in front of a panel of judges.
“I get really scared going in front of the judges,” she acknowledged. “Most of the judges are nice. Last year, one panel of judges set up their table like ‘American Idol.’ They had name plates that said ‘Randy,’ ‘Paula’ and ‘Simon.’ That was pretty neat.”
While most of the students compete as individuals, senior Brandi Stevens, who finished second in advanced office systems, joins basketball and softball teammates Emily Keller and Meagan Maes to comprise the economic research project team.
“This year’s topic is 401Ks, and how they’re affecting society,” Stevens explained. “It’s pretty interesting. We had to write a paper. We do a speech and an interview. I like working with people and I’m very comfortable with Emily and Meagan.”
Molly Hartman, another senior, collected first place in both advanced word processing and advanced office systems at district. Hartman’s word processing prowess dates back to her junior high days.
“In middle school I was up to 80 to 100 words per minute,” she said. “I’m not quite as fast now. I’m probably around 80 words a minute.”
Schwartz puts a high value on finding a student’s particular strength as early as possible.
“You try to find that niche in seventh and eighth grade,” he commented. “Everybody has to compete in two areas, though. Sometimes they’re surprised at how well they do in the secondary area. They may find they have a talent in a totally different area.”
Junior Reannon Lewis found success in medical office procedure. Last year as a sophomore, Lewis joined Master and Ashley Robbins at nationals.
“It’s a lot of terminology,” Lewis noted. “You have to define a lot of terms and know different kinds of doctors and what they do.”
Adam Baker will take on spreadsheets as well as legal office procedures at state.
“In legal office procedures, you take multiple choice tests,” he explained. “You have to know a bunch of terminology and work with affidavits.”
While senior Nicole Wentzel, who competes in fundamental word processing and basic office systems, doesn’t plan to pursue business in college, she sees value in the experience.
“I’m going into teaching, but it’s nice to know that just in case I do change my mind, business is an option,” Wentzel said.
According to Schwartz, most of his students select careers outside of business, but the skills and self-discipline developed prove invaluable.
“I teach a two-hour lab class,” Schwartz noted. “Very seldom will I have more than two or three kids go on to study business. But this is preparing them in a lot of different avenues.
“One of the big things is self-discipline,” Schwartz continued. “These kids have shown a lot of self-discipline in preparing for competition. That will allow them to continue to grow and thrive in whatever they do.” |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 09 March 2007 )
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