Oklahoma BPA students brief CareerTech board on membership growth, conference turnout and community service

Paxton, state advisor for Oklahoma Business Professionals of America (BPA), and state officers Mikaela Adams and Thomas Branson presented a mid-year update to the CareerTech State Board on student activities, membership and upcoming events.

Paxton said state membership is tracking to exceed recent years and that membership totals will be finalized in April; presenters cited a historical reference point near 6,069 members prior to 2020. The fall leadership conference drew 1,946 attendees, included 24 workshops and raised $20,047.99 for Oklahoma Special Olympics, students said. The BPA quality chapter tour visited 10 host locations, reached about 350 members and covered roughly 1,645 miles across the state.

State president Mikaela Adams and vice president Thomas Branson described leadership and professionalism skills gained through BPA activities and previewed an upcoming state leadership conference in March and the national leadership conference in Chicago May 10–14. Paxton asked for volunteers and judges for upcoming state conferences and said the organization plans a first-ever chapter officer training camp in the summer.

Board members thanked the students for their leadership and for the Special Olympics fundraising results.