Students from the Cyber Security & Computer Network Technology and Software Engineering programs at Van Buren Tech demonstrated exceptional skill and professionalism at the Business Professionals of America Michigan State Leadership Conference, held at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, MI. The event brought together approximately 2,000 students representing more than 100 high schools and career centers from across Michigan. Competing in a wide range of business and information technology events, Van Buren Tech students showcased their technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, and readiness for future careers in high-demand fields.
The following students earned top-three finishes in their respective events, qualifying them to advance to the Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN:
Santiago Ruiz (Covert High School); 2nd Place, Server Administration Using Microsoft
Logan Budfuloski (Mattawan High School); 3rd Place, Network Administration Using Cisco
Isaac Nower (Lawrence High School); 3rd Place, Python Programming
Colton Robinson (Home School / Paw Paw High School); 3rd Place, Management, Marketing, and Human Resources Concepts
In addition to these national qualifiers, several Van Buren Tech students earned top-10 finishes at the state level, reflecting the depth of talent and dedication within the programs:
Kegan Born (Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School)
Jacob Kaczmarek (South Haven High School)
Moses Krause (Home School / Hartford High School)
Tyler Oliver (Bangor High School)
Mason Thurman (Hartford High School)
Aydan Unrath (Hartford High School)
Business Professionals of America (BPA) is a national Career and Technical Student Organization that empowers students to develop leadership, technical, and workplace skills in business and information technology. Through competitive events, students apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios, preparing them for both postsecondary education and careers in a rapidly evolving workforce.
Participation in BPA provides students with opportunities to build confidence, network with peers and industry professionals, and gain recognition for their achievements on both the state and national stage.
Van Buren Tech congratulates all participating students for their hard work and success and wishes its national qualifiers the best as they prepare to compete in Nashville.