Business students in the Business Professionals of America (BPA) organization at Lebanon Trail High School have prepared for one of the most enriching and educational competitions that this year has to offer, in the business arena. The students would prepare for their various events ranging from Entrepreneurship, Accounting, Marketing, and many other important skills, also learning a good deal about leadership and business concepts which are key throughout their future years within an enterprise.
“BPA has given me a deeper understanding of business principles and practices, which has helped me build a strong foundation for future academic and career goals,” said Aishwarya Santhosh, a Director of BPA. “Our chapter’s rigorous preparation programs and collaborative environment have helped me sharpen my business understanding, whether it’s through developing competitive projects or improving my public speaking and problem-solving skills.”
BPA is a national organization that gives students the chance to develop practical business skills through various competitions. Students prepare themselves by practicing industry-standard tools, enhancing public speaking, and learning to be a better team. For students at Lebanon Trail, BPA is more than competition; it’s about the journey that makes this experience even more personal in growth and career readiness. The competition process is competitive and rewarding. Students take months to practice with exams, sometimes timed presentations, to introduce competition conditions. As they whip up their technical and interpersonal skills, they also cultivate an air of confidence and professionalism around them.
“Students develop real-world workplace competencies in presentation techniques, technical writing, project management, and professional communication. The development of these competencies is highly structured through competitions and leadership experiences emulating real business situations,” said Darsh Poddar, the President of BPA. “By being part of BPA, students at Lebanon Trail High School are not only working toward academic success but also building a strong professional foundation that will set them apart in future academic and career pursuits.”
Texas State competition was a milestone for the members of BPA here in Lebanon Trail because it gathered students from across the state, competing in different events such as Digital Media Production down to Financial Literacy. That is a test of their skills learned but also a lifetime opportunity for networking as the students get to meet the industrial people and understand which field to go into.
“Preparing students for competition is a multi-step process starting from the beginning of the school year up until the end,” said Aanya Avadhanula, a Director of BPA. “We began with ensuring every student picks the right event for them. This can involve one-on-one assistance, providing a guide of questions members can ask themselves to ensure their event will reflect them, and sending competition stats to portray the difficulty and competitiveness of each event.”
As competitions, these have translated for Lebanon Trail’s BPA chapter into a history of great successes with students often bringing in the top awards. Indeed, it is their achievements as the fruits of careful preparation and hard work at every event and supportive school environment in the BPA community. It instills great life skills beyond just competitions: leadership, communications, and problem-solving are instilled through the organization, which applies to whatever they do in their business career. These attributes are a part of every occupation; it could be owning a company, marketing, or being a corporate leader.
“Being part of BPA has significantly enhanced my presentation skills, leadership abilities, and understanding of business concepts,” said Santhosh. “Through BPA, I’ve learned how to communicate ideas clearly and work effectively in a team setting, skills that will benefit me in both my academic and professional life.”
Through BPA, students prepare for their future careers. Students take away valuable feedback that shapes their professional path. A number of the Lebanon Trail alumni have gone off to prestigious universities and/or landed their internships for major companies thanks to their experience in BPA.
“Everyone there worked their hardest to be there despite any other factor keeping them from living up to their full BPA potential, making the event itself an experience to never forget with thousands of extremely successful people, in the same room, celebrating each other’s accomplishments, and competing to continue their journey,” said Avadhanula.
Business Professionals of America at Lebanon Trail High School is more than a competition for students; it’s the launch pad into their futures. The shaping of themselves as the business leaders of tomorrow through hard work, collaboration, and real-life experiences in the business world.
“My message to potential BPA members is simple yet powerful: Join, compete, and discover your potential,” said Poddar. “BPA is not just another school club; it’s a launchpad for your professional aspirations. Don’t overthink if you are ready or good enough. Take the leap and see how far you will go in competition. The beauty of BPA comes in the form of its changing power. Every competition stands as a way to challenge oneself, fight through one’s perceived limitations, and discover talents that one did not even know they had.”
