Three Milford students are preparing to represent their school and the Business Professionals of America at the Ohio State Leadership Conference after advancing through highly competitive regional events through Live Oaks Career Campus.
Isla Jansen, Owen Deutschle, and Viktor Acuña each qualified in different BPA categories, highlighting the wide range of career pathways available through Live Oaks’ business and technology programs.
Business Professionals of America provides students with opportunities to demonstrate real-world workplace skills through its Workplace Skills Assessment Program (WSAP). The program is designed to help students showcase occupational competencies, expand leadership and communication skills, demonstrate a competitive spirit, and earn recognition for their achievements. With more than 50 competitive events spanning information technology, digital design, finance, marketing, management, and human resources, BPA allows students to explore and refine skills directly connected to future careers.
Junior Isla Jansen advanced to state competition in Digital Arts & Design -Fundamental Desktop Publishing, where competitors are challenged to think creatively under strict time constraints. During her regional event, Isla was given a real-world scenario and just 90 minutes to design a logo, flyer, and nameplate using professional design software.
“You’re in a lab with about 25 other students, all working at the same time,” Jansen said. “There’s a lot of pressure, but it’s exciting too.”
Out of her entire class, only two students advanced. Isla described the moment as both surprising and rewarding. She plans to continue refining her skills in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as she prepares for the next level of competition.
That same testing environment looked very different for Owen Deutschle, who advanced in PC Servicing & Troubleshooting. His event focused on diagnosing and solving computer-related problems, testing students on their understanding of troubleshooting processes and technical fundamentals. While the questions were straightforward, the challenge came from applying knowledge quickly and accurately in a competitive setting.
“I didn’t go in thinking about state, so finding out I advanced was pretty exciting," said Deutschle.
The competition grew even more technical for Viktor Acuña, who qualified in Information Technology with a focus on networking. His event tested knowledge of networking concepts such as ports, protocols, and the OSI model through a timed online exam
“Only two of us from my class moved on, so it feels really good knowing I made it,” Acuña said. “Once you’re in the room, it’s quiet and serious, and you really have to focus.”
To prepare for the next round, he has been working with virtual machines and hands-on tools in the lab, allowing him to visualize and apply the concepts he will be tested on at the state level.
All three students will now compete at the BPA State Leadership Conference, where they will face hundreds of students from across Ohio in a professional, high-stakes environment. Strong performances at state can lead to advancement to national competition, along with opportunities for scholarships, certifications, and further recognition.
Join us in cheering on our Milford competitors later this February 23 and 24 as they travel to Columbus to represent their school at the BPA State Leadership Conference.