CRESTON, IA, March 5, 2012—Five Southwestern Community College students placed at the Spring Business Professionals of America (BPA) Leadership Conference in Des Moines, February 26-27, qualifying them for BPA national competition, to be held during the 2012 National Leadership Conference, April 25-29, in Chicago, IL.
SWCC students qualifying for nationals included Nora Andrews, sophomore, office systems specialist major, from Benton; Jacqueline Castillo, sophomore, medical transcription major, from Lenox; Amber Graciano, sophomore, liberal arts major, from Lenox; Melissa Villarreal, sophomore, medical transcription major, from Lenox; and Carla Willis, sophomore, business administration major, from Creston.
The college’s highest award came from a team made up of Villarreal, Castillo, and Graciano who placed second in the administrative support concepts competition. Other awards included Andrews placing third in advanced word processing skills; Graciano placing fifth in fundamental word processing skills; Villarreal placing ninth in financial math and analysis; Castillo placing fourth in fundamental word processing skills; and Willis placing third in integrated office applications, fifth in database skills, third in administrative support concepts, third in business meetings management, and eighth in financial math and analysis.
SWCC's sponsors for BPA are Barb Brown and Holly Booth, both business and technology instructors.
PHOTO (L to R): Nora Andrews, Amber Graciano, Melissa Villarreal, Jacqueline Castillo, and Carla Willis