Before the break, members of the Wylie East Chapter of Business Professionals of America participated in State level business skill competitions, leadership sessions and internships along with 2,800 other conference delegates within the Sheraton hotel in Dallas.

“The best part of the meet was the atmosphere of meeting new people and I getting to go with my friends in BPA and meeting a lot of people from all across Texas,” junior Hephzibah Olajimi said.

Competitors placed in the top 25 percent within their contest areas with two students reaching the finals. Olajimi placed fifth in Human Resources Management and sophomore Layne Parrish placed third in Network Administration using Microsoft taking them to the National Leadership Conference.

“It was a surprise for me to get to go to Nationals because when I took the exam, I was the last one to take it and I was afraid I would fail it,” Parrish said.

The event lasted four days giving students the chance to meet business professionals within the work force deepening the students knowledge and the ability to make new connections.

“People there are great, you can make connections that can help you in the future,” junior Allie Dorsey said.

Olajimi and Parrish will continue their efforts into the National Leadership Conference in Orlando in May.

“It was a learning experience I don’t think I would be able to experience that anywhere else,” Dorsey said.