Coffeyville BPA wins two national championship titles 

The Coffeyville Community College (CCC) Business Professionals of America (BPA) team earned two national championship titles at the National Leadership Conference in New York City this past May.  Led by instructors, Tina Logan and Jon Duffee, the BPA students competed against chapters from across America.  When the competition was done the CCC Network Design Team led by Katrina Long of Cherryvale, Kan. and including Erick Rexwinkle and Michael Steen, both of Coffeyville, Kan. took first place in the Network Design Team competition.  The team developed a plausible network solution to a hypothetical scenario and presented their plan to a panel of experienced IT professional.  The judges acted as customers and the students had to sell their solution.  CCC student John Cash of Neodesha, Kan. also earned first place in the Information Technology Concepts contest and Steen took fourth.  Although the CCC team did not secure the top position in the PC Servicing and Support contest, the team did secure second through fourth place with Rexwinkle in second, Cash in third and Conrad Wilson of Sedan, Kan. in fourth.  CCC student, Michael Folk of Longton, Kan. took fifth place in the Computer Network Technology competition. 

“Many of our students got out of high school and went to work without having a chance to travel,” said Logan.  “This type of trip gives them confidence.  Competing at the state and national level and all the travel teaches them things that could never be taught in a classroom.” 

These students raised the money for this trip and Logan says this gives them a sense of pride and they appreciate it more. 

In addition to winning big, the CCC BPA students explored a city they had only ever seen on television and in pictures.  Upon arrival in the big city some of the CCC students attended the Broadway play “Wicked.”  On Wednesday a number of the students took a double decker city bus tour before touring the Hudson River including all three bridges, Ellis Island, the Manhattan Skyline and the Statue of Liberty.  The group walked to Time Square that evening.  Thursday was competition day.  That evening the group saw the musical “Hair Spray.”

“I’ve never seen anything like that,” said Teresa Menefee of Coffeyville, Kan.  “Hairspray was so good.  I had tears in my eyes it was so moving.” 

On Friday, Logan worked as the administrator of the graphic design secondary contest.  That afternoon she ate her first New York City hot dog and joined some of the CCC students for a walk in Central Park.  In order to see the entire Park, the group rode rickshaws guided by drivers from Africa, Macedonia and Poland. 

“They knew more about New York City than most people and they took pride in making sure their information was accurate,” said Logan.

The group then traveled to Canal Street to go shopping.  When the students were tired of the “aggressive shopping atmosphere” they rode the subway to dinner at an authentic Italian Pizzeria. 

On Saturday the group headed to the Statue of Liberty and climbed the 155 steps to her observation deck.  It was more emotional than the group expected.  Those emotions were heightened even more as they then visited Ground Zero.  The students took photos, toured the 9/11 Museum and talked to firemen at the station across from the site.  

“The firemen said they helped evacuate the buildings while it was happening,” said Logan. 

“It was a fun and educational trip for all involved,” said Duffee.  “The participants were able to meet students from all over the country and experience the ‘melting pot’ of cultures that is New York City.” 

“Everything we had seen on TV, but it didn’t seem real until we were there,” said Menefee. 

“I have been taking students to the National BPA contest for 12 years and New York City was the best,” said Logan.  “How many chances are any of these students going to have to go to New York City and see all that we did?  It was a great trip.”