DeSoto High School’s Business Professionals of America (BPA) members competed in the Regional Leadership Conference and Competition on Jan. 25, 2025, in Grand Prairie, Texas. The event featured 10 students showcasing their skills in various business and technology disciplines.
These DHS students performed exceptionally well, earning several top finishes in their respective categories:
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- 1st Place: Fundamentals of Spreadsheets – Katherine Seekings
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- 2nd Place: Lynx Operating System Fundamentals – Rodney Barfield
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- 3rd Place: Python Programming – Edwin Rodriguez
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- 4th Place: Python Programming – Joel Patterson
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- 6th Place: Presentation Team – Katherine Seekings & Jesus Guerrero
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- 7th Place: Website Design – Leilani Littleford
These outstanding results highlight the hard work, talent, and dedication of DHS students, who are members of the school’s BPA chapter.
As a result of their top performances, Seekings, Barfield, Rodriguez, and Patterson will advance to the Business Professionals of America State Leadership Conference and Competition, set for Feb. 27–March 2, 2025, at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas.
The State Leadership Conference is a significant event where BPA student members from across the state gather to engage in leadership development activities, compete in various business-related contests, network with peers, and potentially elect new state officers. It's a key part of the BPA program, allowing students to showcase their abilities at the state level before potentially advancing to national competitions.
The conference provides valuable real-life experience, judged by professionals in each student’s field of interest, enhancing their professional skills and career preparedness. This year, DHS will have three IT students and one business student advancing to the state competition. The two seniors are Edwin Rodriguez and Joel Patterson.
One will attend a university to major in engineering, while the other will join the United States Marine Corps and pursue a career in cybersecurity. Rodney Barfield, a sophomore and one of the school's top young coders, will compete in Linux Operating Systems Fundamentals. The final student is Katherine Seekings, a junior and the President of DeSoto BPA. Seekings scored the highest in Spreadsheet Applications, earning 1st place.
The BPA Regional Leadership Conference serves as a critical opportunity for students to apply their business acumen, technical skills, and leadership abilities in real-world scenarios, preparing them for successful careers in various fields. These students love competing, setting goals, and having fun while developing skills that will serve them throughout their careers.