Van Wert, Ohio (2-18-26) – Students from Vantage Career Center delivered an outstanding performance at the regional Business Professionals of America competition at Ohio Northern University in January, earning top placements and sending a strong group of qualifiers to the State Leadership Conference in Columbus, Ohio on February 23–24. BPA competitions challenge students to apply real-world business and technology skills, from digital media and design to networking and IT systems. Vantage students demonstrated strong technical knowledge, creativity, and professionalism while competing against peers from across the region. 

Congratulations to all competitors, and best of luck to the state qualifiers as they represent Vantage in Columbus.

Students advancing to the BPA State Competition represent both the Interactive Media and Network Systems programs and earned top placements across a wide range of events.

From Interactive Media, Jasmine Brown of Van Wert placed first in Advanced Desktop Publishing, and Nick Bush of Jefferson placed first in Fundamental Desktop Publishing.

From the Network Systems program, qualifiers include Zion Bertsch of Lincolnview, second in Fundamental Accounting; Riley Wenzlick of St. Johns, third in Computer Network; Adan Zacarias of Paulding, fourth in Computer Network; and GraydenClay of Lincolnview, sixth in Computer Network.

Additional state qualifiers are Owen Stetler of Parkway, second in Server Administration Using Microsoft; Silas Foltz of Paulding, third, and Spencer Stabler of St. Johns, fourth, in the same event.

In Network Administration Using Cisco, Braylon Barnes of Paulding placed first, Noah Pollock of Paulding second, and Angelina Gilbert of Ft. Jennings third.

Other advancing students include Michael Whitson of Crestview, ninth in Device Configuration and Troubleshooting; Henry Walpole of St. Johns, first in Computer Security; Xander Bartley of Paulding, third in Computer Security; Gavin Westgerdes of Parkway, first in C# Programming; Quinn Spackey of Van Wert, second in C++ Programming; Bill Burgei of Wayne Trace, third in Java Programming; and Carson Feathers of St. Johns, third in Python Programming.