Harbor Country Living

River Valley Business Professionals of America members and their advisor, Jim Nevil (right), are ready for state-level competition. - photo by Matt Fritz

Nine River Valley BPA students make state


By Matt Fritz, News staff writer

THREE OAKS - If you think teenagers are too young to start their professional careers, you might want to think again.

Or perhaps you should be introduced to a group of River Valley High School students who made finals in 13 categories at the Michigan Region 1 Conference of the Business Professionals of America (BPA). Nine out of 20 students from the RVHS Chapter of BPA learned they stood fairly well in the world of business after competing against 900 students in the BPA conference Jan. 6 at Davenport University in Grand Rapids. They will now go on to the BPA State Conference that takes place from March 16-19.

“I'm extremely ecstatic and I'm proud of their performance this year,” said River Valley Chapter BPA Advisor Jim Nevil. The students won big in several events including Entrepreneurship, Advanced Interview Skills, Financial Math and Analysis, Computer Network Technology, and Administrative Support Concepts.

Chapter Secretary Ava Koebel, who also placed third in Interview Skills, has been interested in business since her youth and was eager to attend the event.  “I found the conference a lot of fun,” she said.

The RVHS chapter of BPA is only open to students who have taken a business class or are currently in one. It's goals are to increase members' leadership and technological skills, as well as further them along in their chosen career path. Koebel said she was happy to be a part of it.

“I joined BPA my freshman year because I knew from a really young age that I would pursue business throughout my life,” she said. “At first I didn't think it was that exciting, but once I got into it I realized I could learn a lot and make a lot of friends.”

Despite emphasis on some technical skills at the conference, Nevil said the chapter also tries to develop some of the softer skills.

“Not only do they need to know the I.T. and the technology skills,” he said, “they need to know the soft skills required today. Responsibility, honesty, integrity, being at work on time, having a good attitude, and definitely being a team player. Being able to talk to people. I'm amazed about how many kids can't even do small talk today. They can't communicate to people, they don't look them in the eye.”

River Valley BPA members advancing on to state are: Bree Prehn, Ericka Carlson, Brianna Sonnenberg, Joey Daniel, Robert Lantis, James White, Koebel, Amy Pavur and Micah Lindquist.

January 19, 2006 -Matt Fritz, News staff writer
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