Mariner Middle BPA teams medal in state contest
Once again, Mariner Middle School business students have rocked the annual state competition, collecting a host of awards and earning eight invitations to the national contest.
The Business Professionals of America State Leadership Conference took place throughout the month of February this year, said team advisor and teacher Daniel Shockley.
“Despite being a massive rebuilding year, Mariner BPA will be sending eight members to nationals in Dallas during the first week of May,” Shockley said.
Mariner continues to dominate in the administrative support team and graphic design individual events, Shockley said.
“Moreover, we return to the top five in Excel/spreadsheet design, while adding a digital citizenship finalist for the first time,” Shockley said.
Earning trips to national competition are Regan Best, Rylie Cathcart, Bridgett Cole, Chloe DeForrest, Gabby Hamstead, Audrey Hershelman, Alivia Longo and Caleb Marcus.
Regan, Bridgett and Audrey each received the Diplomat Service Award and Statesman Service Award, and all placed first as part of the administrative support team.
Alivia won first place in graphic design promotion, second place in business fundamentals, fourth place in business communications and fifth place in computer literacy.
Rylie won first place as part of the administrative support team and Chloe won second place in graphic design. Caleb earned second place in digital citizenship and Gabby earned third place in spreadsheet applications.
“With four awards, Alivia has become the most individually awarded BPA member in both chapter and district history,” Shockley said. “In addition, after placing second nationally [last year], Regan, Bridgett, Rylie and Audrey will return to nationals to defend their title and try to secure the top spot.”
Students said they practiced during lunchtime in Shockley’s classroom and over the weekends to fine-tune their specialties and prepare for their first live competition since March 2020. Returning students said they learned from last year’s mistakes how to approach competition in a different way.
“It was disruptive spreading [competition] out over a month, and they sacrificed lunches but they never complained,” Shockley said. “They kept going and kept their focus. They work really hard together and are receptive to feedback. They had a vision in mind, and they practiced and worked together as a team.”
In middle school competition, 175 students from Alfred G. Waters, Cab Calloway School of the Arts, Central, Christiana, Fred Fifer, Gauger Cobbs, HB duPont, Mariner, MOT Charter, Odyssey Charter, PS duPont, Postlethwait, Selbyville and Stanton middle schools participated.
In Dallas, students will take part in competitions, attend workshops led by industry experts and attend classes to achieve certifications in different fields. In their downtime, students will tour the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium and the downtown area.
The cost to attend the competition is about $1,000 to $1,500 per student, Shockley said, and Mariner Middle BPA is accepting donations to help defray students’ costs. Donations can be sent to Mariner Middle School, 16391 Harbeson Road, Milton, DE 19968 in care of Mariner BPA.
