After a few months spent preparing, the business students of Sandpoint High School displayed their skills on January 9 at the Business Professionals of America (BPA) Regional competition at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, ID.

“Everyone did a great job. We have never had this many students qualify for State, and I am very excited,” BPA advisor Melinda Nieman said.

The participants engaged in both open events at the site of competition and previous events done before the competition date.

“The top three students in each event qualify for state, and this year there was a total of 22 SHS students that ranked as high as third place,” Nieman said.

“I am really excited for state this year because I didn’t think I was going to make it and I had so much fun last year [at state] that I didn’t want to miss out,” LaCheale Linscott, vice president of BPA said. “There are a lot of people that made it to state from Sandpoint and it makes me proud to see so many people in our club getting far with their talent.”

BPA State will take place on March 11-14 at Boise State University in Boise, ID.