Business Professionals of America (BPA) students take off from The Nest Saturday as they head to Reedy High School to participate in district competitions.
Districts isn’t the start of the road for BPA competitors, though; rather, it’s the culmination of months of presentation building and studying for tests.
“So, BPA districts is the second level of competition when it comes to BPA,” senior Anvi Saxena said. “So, first, there’s pre-submits and regional testing. This is where you have to be in the top six people for BPA pre-submits and the top ten for the testing. And since ours was like an implementation-based project, we went through the pre-submits. And [for] my specific event, which is global marketing team, we had to write a ten page research essay, as well as give a presentation on a marketing plan that we created for a company.”
But the preparation doesn’t end with pre-submits and testing; many competitors continue to refine their presentations and work on their event all the way up to competition day.
“So [BPA districts], just like pre-submits, it’s the same format: we have to present our research paper as well as our presentation,” Saxena said. “The research paper is set in stone, so we’re not going to be touching that in the preparation of districts, but the presentation is one that we try to enhance, so that we can really stand out to the judges and sell our marketing plan to them.”
In contrast to the weeks and weeks of preparation leading up to districts, however, the actual day of competition is quite fast-moving.
“A typical day at districts, you just arrive, you go in ,and you set up your presentation and you check out your teacher’s room,” senior Aashi Oswal said. “So [you] set up everything you need for your materials and then your individual time slot will be there and then you just go in 10 minutes before your time slot, prep outside, and then you go in, present to the judges, they ask you questions. And then after your presentation… [is] done, you are free to leave.”
For some students, the most exciting part of district competition is actually getting to compete itself.
“I look forward to competing,” junior Mahi Kosuri said. “It’s my first year, so I don’t really know what to expect.”
For others, though, it’s the opportunity to grow and improve from pre-submits.
“I’m most looking forward to presenting the presentation we have in store,” Oswal said. “I think it’s going to be elevated from last year’s and I think that hopefully we’ll have a better shot at making state this year.”
In fact, the 2024-25 BPA season doesn’t end at districts; students who perform well at districts qualify for state competition, hosted this year in Dallas, at the Hilton Anatole from Feb. 27 – March 3.
“So after districts, it’s states,” Saxena said. “So, for the pre-submit events, the top two to three teams make it to state and this year it’s going to be in Dallas, at the Hilton Anatole. It’s just really exciting ‘cause BPA members from all over Texas come to this event.”
Regardless of the sheer amount of work put into preparing for competition and the prospect of state, however, there’s one thing nearly all BPA competitors look forward to on Friday.
“I think my favorite part of districts for BPA is just hanging out with the officers at the end as well as enjoying the donuts that they bring us,” Saxena said. “It’s like a nice sweet treat after we present and our hard work is all just paid off for.”
