Ronan students place at national conference
PICTURED LEFT to right are Kelea Ilac, Happy Cheff, and Madison Wassam, Ronan High School students and their advisor at the National Business Professionals of America conference. (Photo provided)
It was an event of firsts for Montana at the 2018 National Business Professionals of America Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas, especially for our own Ronan residents, Happy Cheff and Kelea Ilac of Ronan High School.
More than 5,600 individuals from 23 states’ associations attended. The delegation of Montana represented 54 secondary chapters and three post-secondary chapters with a total Montana Association representation of 344 members, advisors, and guests. Business Professionals of America is the leading Career and Technical Student Organization for student pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields.
Guided by Madison Wassam, a first-year business teacher at Ronan High School, Ilac took second place for her extemporaneous speech and Cheff nabbed 10th for interview skills.
This year was record-breaking for Ronan High School competing in BPA, as the school has never finished in the top 10.
“I am very proud of my two students. They were focused and determined to” get int the top 10, Wassam said.
Cheff has competed in BPA for three years, and this year was the first he received a medal. Recently graduated, Cheff will attend Boise State University in Idaho.
“I want to thank everyone who has helped me get through this. I encourage every student to do BPA. It is an awesome experience and I have met some great connections through the conferences,” Cheff said.
Ilac, also a recent high school graduate, competed in BPA for the first time this year.
“Happy was the one to get me to compete in BPA this year. Looking back on it, I wish I completed all four years of my high school carrier. It was very fun and eye-opening,” Ilac said.
She will attend Whitworth University in Spokane.
Montana BPA once again had an unbelievable year with members being recognized for their community service involvement. The BPA Cares Program recognizes school who participated in service learning programs, marketing and public relations as well as chapter activities award of excellence. Montana was recognized with the following National BPA Honor Awards: 62 Montana BPA students were recipients of the Ambassador Torch Award; BPA Marketing and Public Relations Award of Achievement, Membership Explosion Certificate of Achievement, Quality Chapter Distinction at NLC was awarded, the President’s Volunteer Service Award was awarded, scholarships, 34 students were recognized for the completion of the National Student Certification, and five Montana BPA Advisors completed the National Advisor Certification.