NIC Kellogg student wins big at BPA competition

Mullan resident Lisa Carver recently took home a first place award and two other awards for her showing at the state Business Professionals of America (BPA) competition in Boise.

Reed took home first place in Integrated Office Applications, fourth place in Basic Office Systems and Procedures and fourth place in College Payroll Accounting.

Reed is a student at North Idaho College (NIC) who found an interest in BPA when she was in high school, but has really gotten into it during her time at NIC.

“I was introduced to BPA in high school but learned about it in college through a Career Leadership class offered at NIC,” Reed said. “It is a great club if you are seeking a career in a business related field.”

The competition itself is tough, as you are required to take several different tests in the various fields that you are competing in, but there are different formats that you can compete in.

One can either travel to Boise and participate in a judged event, or a graded event where one does the event virtually from a computer at home.

Reed chose the latter because it was more feasible with her full-time job, but feasibility doesn’t always mean easier.

“I competed in three graded events. This was more feasible for me in order to be able to stay home and work to take the tests virtually at the Silver Valley Outreach Center for North Idaho College,” Reed said. “Competing virtually has both its pros and its cons. It was beneficial in my circumstance to be able to compete virtually, but it was also easier to get distracted when you are not actually in the testing environment everyone else is.”

As if the testing weren’t difficult enough, the pressure of competing with the other colleges and universities in the state adds a little extra pressure.

“The tests were tough,” Reed stated. “There are a few jobs you need to complete with each test along with a multiple choice portion of the test, and they have to be completed within a certain time frame.”

For example, during Reed’s Integrated Office Systems competition, she had to complete a job using Microsoft Word, then Microsoft Access related, then Power Point related etc.

“They don’t offer much room for error, any type of formatting error or grammatical error can be detrimental to your overall grade, so reviewing what you have completed was a must within timely fashion,” Reed said.

With her finishes she now qualifies for the national competition in Orlando, Florida, in May.

Reed is very excited to compete nationally and credits her advisor for getting her ready for the event.

“It took quite of bit of preparation for all three events, in which our advisor, Tacey Keylon, did an exceptional job of preparing us for our tests,” Reed said. “I am very excited to be traveling there and representing NIC and Idaho on a national level.”