Alpena High’s proud Business Professionals: An inside look

It was eighth grade, 2019, and I was at a crowded table in the crowded cafetorium at Thunder Bay Junior High School, surrounded by jostling friends and munching on some chicken poppers, when I noticed a congregation of mysterious beasts was table-hopping throughout the room.

They were tall beasts, larger-than-life; they were high schoolers. They were also weirdly impeccably dressed, which ought to have been my first hint at their purpose. As I watched one of them talk to a group of disinterested seventh-graders, a shadow overtook me without my noticing.

In time, I realized my friends had all stopped talking, and I turned to see a large figure hovering over the edge of the table. He was built like a football player, rising above us like a skyscraper. He wore a sharp collared shirt and held a pencil and sheet of lined paper.

He began to speak, his voice rich in timbre. He said his name was George and started telling us about some sort of club he was involved with at the high school. In truth, I didn't invest much in this strange high schooler; so much of what he said went over my head. From what I could gather, he represented some vague business club, and he thought my friends and I would be a good fit, probably because the kid sitting across from me was wearing a tie.

I did not retain much from George's presentation, but I did remember three letters: BPA.

Cut to the following autumn, when I had grown from a wide-eyed, insecure eighth-grader to a wide-eyed, insecure freshman, searching for things to involve myself in. I considered many clubs, but nothing successfully drew me in.

However, one day, I met George again in marching band, and he invited me to one of his club's meetings. I tagged along willingly, not just because I sought the affirmation of a senior, but because the letters BPA felt familiar, and I wanted to know what this allusive club was all about.

At my first meeting, I met the magnificent Mrs. Pilarski, several intelligent upperclassmen, and learned that BPA stood for Business Professionals of America. After 10 minutes at the meeting, I decided I was interested. After 20 minutes at the meeting, I decided I was invested. And after 40 minutes at the meeting, I decided I wouldn't turn back.

For those unfamiliar, Business Professionals Of America is a Career and Technical student organization that allows students to compete in events based on topics from business management to office administration to information technology, and more. Our modest Alpena chapter has existed for five years, regularly competing at regional and state events. Led by our teacher advisor, Amanda Pilarski, BPA has proven to be one of Alpena High School's more consistently successful institutions.

Due to vigorous lobbying and generous donations, the Alpena chapter had the privilege of attending the 2023 Michigan BPA State Conference in Grand Rapids on March 9 to 12, 2023.

The event was on a scale none of us could imagine. We spent three days at the luxurious Amway Grand Hotel, three days networking with fellow BPA members, colleges, and successful business people, three days dominating many of our events. At the end of the conference, six of us had the chance to stand on a stage in front of hundreds, as we had placed at the highest level of our respective events.

At the State Conference, two members of the Alpena BPA Chapter qualified for the National Leadership Conference, meaning they placed top three in their respective events. These members were Nikolas Jones in the Java Programming event and William Meinzinger in the Digital Media Production event. Additional finalists included Colt Gray and Lanie Morgan in the Economic Research event and Maddie Linton and Evan Goff in the Global Marketing Team event. All of us were honored just to attend the State Conference ­-- much less qualify for the NLC.

This year, the National Leadership Conference is being held in Anaheim, California on April 26 to 30. The value of attending the National Leadership Conference cannot be denied, and it would be a great privilege for our qualifying members to represent Alpena. Not only that, but our attendance would represent great strides for Alpena High School and the Alpena community.

After the State Conference had officially concluded, I walked with my fellow members out of the Amway Grand, overcome with immense pride. Not only had I learned many lessons of business … I'd also grown very close to my fellow members. These were the students I saw everyday, the peers I'd spent days planning trips and organizing events with, the friends I'd shared many Jimmy Johns' sandwiches and inside jokes with, the family I'd never forget.

We'd spent weeks preparing for our respective events, constantly bouncing ideas off of each other, criticizing each other, practicing our presentations in front of each other, arguing with each other, physically combatting each other … all (of course) in the name of strengthening ourselves as graphic designers, presentation managers, video editors, public speakers -- business professionals.

In high school, the most important thing -- aside from receiving an education -- is the individual student's experience with their peers. The lessons, the fun. BPA, for me, has provided plenty of lessons and plenty of fun, and I know my fellow chapter members would agree.

Nick Lusardi is a senior at Alpena High School. He will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall. Reach him at nlusardi6@gmail.com.