U.S. President Calvin Coolidge once said, ‘The chief business of the American people is business.?
Well, it appears some Oxford High School students have taken that famous statement to heart as five of them earned the right to compete at the Business Professionals of America (BPA) 2012 National Leadership Conference in Chicago April 25-29.
‘We are extremely proud of all our Oxford BPA students,? said Karen Cartmill, who serves as an advisor to the high school’s BPA chapter along with teachers Maria Wolbert and Vlad Lebedintsev.
BPA is the leading Career Technical Student Organization for students pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related fields. The group has more than 51,000 members in over 2,300 chapters in 23 states.
In the Web Site Design Team category, OHS students Jon Doslak, Harrison Moore, Garrison Sedam and Colleen Walters took first place. For their efforts, each student was awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.
‘I think they proved themselves,? Wolbert said. ‘I think they said it all by getting first place.?
The team created a website based on First Lady Michelle Obama’s ‘Let’s Move? campaign, which is aimed at promoting physical activity and healthy diets among the nation’s youth.
Dubbed ‘Let’s Move, Oxford,? the website focuses on all the local events that promote physical activity such as the Relay for Life, Jump Rope for Heart and the Laugh & Dash.
The site contains valuable information regarding health issues such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease, all of which are connected to sedentary life-styles involving video games and watching television, and diets heavy in unhealthy choices such as greasy fast foods.
Tips on how to grocery shop for nutritious foods and start exercising through sports and family activities are also available on the site.
Also headed for nationals are Rachel Saigh, who took second place in Advanced Interviewing Skills, and once again, Harrison Moore, who earned third place in Fundamentals of Web Design.
‘The leadership, teamwork and overall 21st century technological business skills showcased (were a source of) great pride for Oxford Schools and our community,? Lebedintsev said.
Wolbert is expecting Oxford’s BPA students to do ‘very well? in Chicago.
‘I absolutely feel that we have an excellent chance of getting on stage at nationals,? Wolbert said.
OHS student Erin Jones finished seventh (alternate) in Computerized Accounting at the state competition, which could earn her a spot at the nationals.
‘It’s not unreasonable to think that she may go,? Wolbert said.