Community outreach is important to Business Professionals of America, as one of the founding values of the organization is service. With this in mind, BPA students assisted in a Junior Achievement BizTown event March 3-4. At the event, BPA students got to guide sixth graders who got the opportunity to step into job roles in a bustling city. From making loans to voting, this simulation allowed young students to experience the intricacies of the working environment. 

This event provided an opportunity for BPA members to share personal experiences and grow community connections. BPA member Delores Hubbard ’27 shares why she believes this event is important for young students. 

“I think events like BizTown give an example to young students of what business is like in the real world. A big event like this town really breaks it down to the basics,” Hubbard said. 

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Diane Fickel

Sophmore Lila Bihun shows the pet rescue store book at BizTown.

Business teacher Diane Fickel agrees, saying the event helps not only the sixth graders but the BPA volunteers as well. 

“The students are being ambassadors of West High,” Fickel said. “One [sixth grader] said, ‘I want to be just like those high school kids.’ So that is the biggest compliment a [student] can get.”

Outreach events such as these are instrumental in providing engaging learning opportunities for upcoming high school students and giving students the chance to discover their passion. BizTown also allowed BPA members to grow their leadership skills and showcase the organization’s commitment to empowering the next generation of business leaders.