The Alumni Division was formed in 1971 and approved by the Board of Directors of Business Professionals of America. The Alumni Division was set up to provide a means for students to maintain their involvement in Business Professionals of America. The primary purpose of the BPA Alumni Division is to provide continuing service and support to the organization through educational, financial and professional assistance.

The Alumni promotes personal and professional growth for its members through activities such as conferences, seminars, business tours, travel and social gatherings. By assisting at conferences, presenting workshops and submitting articles for national publications, the Alumni Division supports and provides services to the other divisions of Business Professionals of America. In addition to these opportunities for involvement, the Alumni provides its membership with publications and other useful information throughout the year.

The graduates of Business Professionals of America have a unique opportunity — to begin an Alumni chapter in their school or even their state. The BPA Alumni Division strives to encourage members to develop their occupational skills, knowledge and abilities to a high degree of proficiency. The Alumni Division provides an avenue for former Business Professionals of America members to continue their involvement in the Business Professionals of America organization. If your state does not currently have an alumni chapter, the below outline can help you take the steps to establish one:

I. Plan the first organizational meeting

• Meeting details

1. Decide on a centralized location
2. Decide on a convenient time

• Contact interested individuals

1. Former classmates
2. Current advisor or instructors at school
3. Ask for a list from school with the names of former business students

II. First meeting

• Decide the purpose of the organization
• Select temporary officers

1. President
2. Secretary/Recorder

• Designate a committee to develop a constitution

  The constitution should include

1. Name of organization
2. Objectives of the organization
3. Membership requirements
4. Officers or executive committee
5. Meeting dates
6. Parliamentary authority

• Assign constitution completion date
• Designate a steering committee to plan possible future activities

1. Social
2. Fundraising ideas, if needed
3. Professional development meetings

• Decide on the next meeting date and location

III. Committee meetings

• Constitution committee

1. Develop a new constitution or change an existing constitution of another chapter to meet organization needs
2. Make copies to distribute at the next business meeting

• Activities committee–discuss various organizational activities
• Financial-discuss fundraising ideas and ways to distribute Alumni funds
• Educational-form volunteer committees for various conferences, begin a student mentorship
• Professional-talk about ways to enrich the professional opportunities available to Alumni and ways to give back to student members through professional experiences.

IV. Second and subsequent meetings

• Discuss and make changes to constitution
• Ratify constitution
• Elect officers–specified in constitution
• Collect dues
• Decide on future activities (from activities committee)
• Establish committees

1. Membership Recruitment
2. Fund Raising
3. Social
4. Educational

V. Officers should submit the following for a charter

1. Copy of constitution
2. Application for chapter charter
3. List of officers and chapter members
4. Dues for unpaid members
5. Send complete charter to: Business Professionals of America National Center Attn:
   National Alumni Division 700 Morse Road Suite 201, Columbus, OH 43214

Who can join?

The Alumni Division is open to former members who wish to support the current membership educationally, financially and professionally. This may include past members of the Middle Level, Secondary and Post-secondary Divisions.

Membership Registration

Use our online portal to register as an alumni, edit your information or search for another alumni member.

Annual Members

Annual members are previous student or advisor members of a Business Professionals of America chapter.

Lifetime Members

Lifetime members are previous members of Business Professionals of America for whom life membership dues have been received. Hall of Fame recipients and former National Officers are eligible to receive a complimentary Lifetime membership.

An alumni member may be part of an organized local or state association where members get together frequently for planned and structured activities. Or, the member may be the only one in an area; in which case, it will be up to the member to determine the level of involvement and participation. Alumni can become as involved on any level (local, state or national) as he or she desires. Here are suggestions of ways members can get involved.

National Leadership Conference

1. Seminars and Workshops
Alumni members are encouraged to participate as seminar or workshop facilitators and present on topics within their area of expertise.

2. Social and Networking Activities
Alumni consistently look for unique social and networking activities to participate in. Examples of activities include meet and greets, visiting popular points of interest, and other forms of entertainment that offer members a chance to network get to know one other.

3. Competitive Events
Alumni are encouraged to volunteer as event proctors, graders, administrators and/or judges during state and national conferences.

4. Registration and Tours
Alumni can provide much needed assistance with the conference registration process or offer assistance to the Tour Desk by helping organize buses, registration for tours and other logistics.

5. National Alumni Annual Business Meeting
The annual business meeting for the National Alumni Division is held annually in conjunction with the BPA National Leadership Conference. This meeting offers an opportunity to discuss the effort of the National BPA Alumni Division over the past year and address ways to increase involvement and awareness for the upcoming year.

State and Local Level Activities

1. State Conferences
Members of the Alumni Division attending state conferences are encouraged to become involved as participants and/or volunteers. Opportunities must be coordinated directly with the Business Professionals of America State Advisor. Some activities to consider include leading seminars and workshops; assisting in registration; proctoring, judging, or administrating competitive events; chaperoning events and more!

2. Assistance to Chapter Advisors
Chapter advisors often appreciate the offer of assistance from Alumni members. New advisors find it especially helpful to rely on Alumni members to aid them in:

• Coordinating the activities of the local chapter
• Assisting with committees
• Forming a Business Professionals of America advisory committee
• Sponsoring or chaperoning a field trip or conference trip
• Serving as judges in local competitive events
• Helping students prepare for competitive events
• Participating in the student Special Olympics project
• Serve as a guest speakers at regular meetings, banquets and regional meetings
• Present talks and workshops on career development and related topics. Topics may include committee effectiveness, officer leadership training, how to apply for a job, preparing for an interview, preparing for the workforce or preparing for competitive events.

Benefits of Staying Involved with BPA

• Opportunities for travel
• Participate in conferences at local, state, and national level
• Experience personal and professional growth
• Networking opportunities
• Serving as mentors to student members
• Sharing expertise and knowledge to student members
• Giving back to the organization

In your own words…

Business Professionals of America is looking for alumni to share personal accounts of what BPA has meant to you. As someone who has been involved with BPA, share your personal story of ‘why’ a student, advisor, educational institution or company would want to become involved with BPA.

Together, we can share the legacy of BPA and make a difference in the lives of future members, partners and advocates!

Use the form below to share your story with the team at Business Professionals of America:

Alumni members may contribute financial gifts to the Alumni Division and Business Professionals of America. With your support, you join a vibrant community of alumni whose gifts help ensure that the next generation of future business professionals not only have the same opportunities that you had as a member, but have the ability to know that they are supported. With your contribution, Business Professionals of America will elevate and maintain programs at the highest level possible. There’s more to be done – and you can make a difference.

Your support will give:

• Future generations opportunities to attend valuable programs that will enhance their educational learning
• Someone a chance to follow their college and career aspirations through scholarship awards
• Sustainability for future generations

Our Alumni Meetings are a great way to stay involved and up-to-date with everything that is happening at Business Professionals of America. The scheduled General Membership meetings for the 2021-2022 membership year are as follows:

• October 25, 2022 – https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArdumuqTgtHdN83cHC-MQxyAB7CNPRMC5a
• December 27, 2022 – https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rf-mvpj4jH9P8p2uBMgtTkUjjSXDZwTbA
• February 28, 2023 – https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvf–rqTMiE9X1l4cKAado3rmpYLXvikfb
• April 18, 2023 – https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlde-qqD0pH9NQUEZ397D2JgSPmHfMAQ7d
• Annual Business Meeting at NLC (TBD)

To participate in the Alumni General Membership meetings, you must be a registered Alumni member in good standing. Meeting details are emailed to active members each month.