About Us

General Information

​Business Professionals of America is a national career and technical student organization consisting of 25 state associations and more than 45,000 members. The organization serves students who are currently, or were previously enrolled, in a business education program at a secondary or post-secondary institution. Chapters are located in high schools, career & technical colleges, colleges and universities.

To prepare students in business related programs to succeed in a world-class workforce through the development of leadership, academic, and technological skills. We achieve this through training seminars, competitive events, and a wide range of workshops. We encourage students to participate in community service by incorporating it into our Torch Award Program.

Business Professionals of America will be a cohesive agent in the worldwide networking of education, business and industry. Business Professionals of America will be the leading student organization in preparing a world-class workforce. Business Professionals of America will set a standard of excellence for a career technical student organizations.

Mission Statement of Business Professionals of America
Our mission at Business Professionals of America is to develop and empower student leaders to discover their passion and change the world by creating unmatched opportunities in learning, professional growth and service.

​Vision Statement of Business Professionals of America
Our vision for Business Professionals of America is: To be an innovator in Career and Technical Education, providing our members with opportunities for growth through education, competition, community service and personal development.

Tag Line
"Giving Purpose to Potential"

Our Mission (BPA Wisconsin)
To prepare students in business related programs to succeed in a world-class workforce through the development of leadership, academic, and technological skills. We achieve this through training seminars, competitive events, and a wide range of workshops. We encourage students to participate in community service by incorporating it into our Torch Award Program.

Our Vision (BPA Wisconsin)
Business Professionals of America will be a cohesive agent in the worldwide networking of education, business and industry. Business Professionals of America will be the leading student organization in preparing a world-class workforce. Business Professionals of America will set a standard of excellence for a career technical student organizations.

Meaning of the Organization’s Name
Business: The field for which we prepare our students; emphasizes that we educate our members to work efficiently, not only in an office setting, but also in a wide variety of business situations.
Professionals: Our students indicate they join Business Professionals of America to take advantage of a wide variety of professional development opportunities.
of America: Symbolizes pride in our country, and its free enterprise business system.

Pledge
We are met in a spirit of friendship and goodwill as we prepare for careers in a world-class workforce. We work together to develop professionalism and leadership through Business Professionals of America and pledge our loyalty to our nation.

Official Colors
Navy blue signifies the success achieved through leadership and professionalism.

Tan represents the bountiful fields of opportunity in America.

Red symbolizes the friendship obtained through the teamwork of our organization.

The Emblem

The four points of the BPA shield stand for ambition, leadership, sociability, and poise.

The shield itself stands for honor and dignity and the importance of business in

America. The stripes represent education, citizenship, loyalty, patriotism, competency, and dependability. The bar represents the service provided by employees in business occupations. The quill and inkwell represent the stability of business occupations through the ages, and the torch represents worthy goals.

Use of the Acronym
The acronym (BPA) is acceptable in casual conversation, and personal correspondence to identify the organization. Once the name is spelled out in full the acronym may be used in text. The acronym may not be used for cover titles or headlines.

BPA Attire
The official BPA blazer is navy blue, and has the logo on the left side.
The nametag is worn on the right side of the jacket.
The highest Torch award pin earned is placed on the right lapel.
The National Merit Scholar pin is placed on the right lapel.
The year membership pin is placed on the left lapel.
The officer pin is placed on the right lapel above the nametag.

State Newsletter Publication
The Wisconsin Pages

State Website
www.bpa.org/wisconsin

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/wisconsinbpa

Instagram
BPAWisconsin

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bpawi

Business Professionals of America Week
Is the second full week of February in coordination with Career and Technical Education month.

Business Professionals of America is a not-for-profit association.

Membership dues must be paid by February 15 to compete at the national level.

Business Professionals of America has four divisions: Middle Level, Secondary, Post-Secondary, and Alumni.
Wisconsin currently has members in the Post-Secondary and Alumni divisions

Workplace Skills Assessment Program (WSAP)
This program is conducted on regional, state, and national levels.  It tests competencies in various areas of business/office occupations. The six categories include:

Finance
Business Administration
Management Information Systems
Digital Communication & Design
Management, Marketing & Communication
Health Administration

Wisconsin BPA Cares
This awards program allows chapters to receive recognition at the Wisconsin State level for engaging in worthwhile projects. BPA Cares is divided into three categories with 7 different awards offered:

Service Learning Awards Program

• Community Service Award   

• Environmental Action/Awareness Award

• Special Olympics Award

Special Recognition Awards Program

• BPA Marketing and Public Relations Award

• BPA Merit Scholar Award

• Member Recruiter of the Year Award

Professional Awards Program

• ​Advisor of the Year Award

Torch Awards Program
The Torch Awards Program recognizes outstanding actively involved members on the local, regional, state, and national levels. There are nine torches in seven activity divisions. The torches are leadership, service, cooperation, knowledge, friendship, love, hope, faith, and patriotism.

Local Award                 Executive                 10 points per category
Regional Award          Diplomat                  30 points per category
State Award                 Statesman              50 points per category
National Award          Ambassador          70 points per category

National Service Project
Special Olympics https://www.specialolympics.org/

State Association Advisory Council (SAAC) Member:
Dianne Carroll - Northcentral Technical College | Wausau, WI

Classroom Educators Advisory Council (CEAC) Members:
Dan O'Brien - Madison Area Technical College | Madison, WI
Gordon Rosploch - Lakeshore Technical College | Cleveland, WI

The purpose of this organization:

• To assist local chapter members in leadership and development.   

• To unite in a common professional bond without regard to race, creed, sex, or national origin of students enrolled in classes  with business employment as their objective.

• To develop leadership abilities through participation in career and technical education, civic, recreational, and social activities.

• To assist students in establishing realistic employment objectives.

• To create enthusiasm for learning.

• To promote high standards in ethics, workmanship, and scholarship.

• To develop the ability of students to plan together, organize, and carry out worthy activities and projects through the use of   the democratic process.

• To foster an understanding of the functions of labor, entrepreneurial, and management organizations in the American Free Enterprise System.

• To develop competent, assertive leaders in business education.

• To develop and strengthen member confidence in themselves, and their work.

• To provide satisfactory social, and recreational activities.

• To foster practical application of business education skills through competitions.