The 2026 Business Professionals of America (BPA) State Leadership Conference was held March 5-6 and saw record-breaking membership with over 2,500 members from 80 chapters across the state competing. Triton BPA sent 26 students to State and walked away with 7 National Trip winners, 4 National Ambassador Torch Award winners, a newly elected State Vice President, two State Runner-Ups, a 3rd Place finisher, 15 Top 10 Finalists, and the Chapter Social Media and Marketing awards. Additionally, Triton received notice that three of their virtual event competitors secured trips to Nationals after placing Top 10 in the Nation.
“I’m just so gosh dang proud of how our students shine in and out of competition,” said Advisor Rebecca Goossens. “They continue to represent Triton with pride and prestige.”
Taking top honors was the Virtual Branding Team of Frankie Gann and Logan Skjeveland and Vika Kundel in Cybersecurity, who are all in the National Top 10 and will find out their exact place at the National Conference this May. Avery Reiser in C# Programming and Logan Skjeveland in Digital Communications & Design were crowned State Runner-Ups, and Vika Kundel secured a 3rd place finish in Advanced Spreadsheet as well as 5th place in Intermediate Word. EJ Okeefe and Abigail Wirkus nabbed 4th and 5th place in Health Administration Procedures, and Triton also featured another 15 Top 10 Finalists including:
Administrative Support Team: Abrielle Emanuel, Lincoln Johnson, EJ Okeefe
Advanced Interview: Ollie Akkerman
Broadcast News Team: Frankie Gann, Diego Ibarra-Castillo, Logan Skjeveland
Presentation: Logan Skjeveland
Visual Design Team: RoseLyn Liudahl and Jade Scovill
Visual Design Team: Brinely Dickie and Rory Ginder
Website Design Team: Ollie Akkerman and Dora Chable
The Triton Chapter received additional recognition as Genevieve Starkson was elected as the 2026-2027 State Vice President, and Ollie Akkerman, Vika Kndel, Logan Skjeveland, and Abigail Wirkus earned their National Ambassador Torch Awards, which recognize students who demonstrate outstanding leadership, service, professionalism, and personal growth.
“Our students competed boldly, led with confidence, and stepped into new opportunities, and I am so, so proud of them, no matter the results,” said Goossens.
BPA’s competitive events program allows students to compete in nearly 70 events focused in the areas of business administration, finance & accounting, information technology, video production, human resources, computer programming, graphic design, marketing & entrepreneurship, and health services. The competitions are designed to prepare students to succeed and assess real-world business skills and problem-solving abilities. After qualifying earlier this year, regional winners put their talents to the test during the State Leadership Conference.
This May, Akkerman, Gann, Kundel, Okeefe, Reiser, Skjeveland, Starkson, and Wirkus will travel to Nashville, TN to compete with thousands of top students from across the United States, Puerto Rico, and internationally at the 60th Annual National Leadership Conference – the pinnacle of BPA competition.
Front Row: Jerry Lee, CJ Juring, Broden Dickie, Vika Kundel, Lincoln Johnson, EJ Okeefe, Frankie Gann, Logan Skjeveland, Abigail Wirkus, Angel Mata Colin, Ollie Akkerman, RoseLyn Liudahl, Jade Scovill, Brooklyn Mechtel, Sophia Hernandez
Back Row: Autumn Dean, Mya Matejcek, Lydia Madison, Abrielle Emanuel, Avery Reiser, Alan Ortiz, Brinley Dickie, Hector Ibarra, Dora Chable
Not Pictured: Genevieve Starkson, Rory Ginder
Avery Reiser is State Runner-Up in C# Programming.
The Visual Design Teams of RoseLyn Liudahl and Jade Scovill and Rory Ginder and Brinley Dickie show off their designs.
Chapter Presidents Abigail Wirkus and Logan Skjeveland receive the Chapter Social Media and Marketing Awards.
Brinley Dickie and Abrielle Emanuel serve as Alternate Voting Delegates.
Broden Dickie, Vika Kundel, Genevieve Starkson, and Mya Matejcek prep for the Campaign Rallies. Dickie and Matejcek served as Campaign Managers for Kundel and Starkson, who ran for State Office.
Gerry Lee competes in Fundamental Accounting.
Vika Kundel places third in Advanced Spreadsheet.