Tuesday, February 11, 2025

The Columbus High School BPA chapter at the State Leadership Conference in Billings.  
Front row (from the left):  Carson Mitchum, Braiden Ranstrom and Adrian Cook.  
Back row (from the left): Karsen Marjerison, Alexis Schatz, Anna Peters, Kolton Gladney, Riley Onoszko, Nate Palmer, Allison Onoszko, Eduardo Pantoja and Wyatt Schatz (not pictured Josiah Forseth).Torch Award winners Alexis Schatz and Braiden Ranstrom.

Columbus BPA competes at State Leadership Conference

After putting in all the necessary work, Columbus juniors Braiden Ranstrom and Alexis Schatz recently earned Statesman Torch Awards at the Business Professionals of America (BPA) State Leadership Conference in Billings.
According to Columbus BPA Advisor Mark Ranstrom, the Torch Award Program promotes both professionalism and leadership in career development and personal growth. Students must complete a variety of activities in seven Torch categories, including service, knowledge, and cooperation.
In addition to receiving his Torch Award, Columbus Chapter President Braiden Ranstrom left the state conference with a second accomplishment – a state office. Ranstrom was elected to serve as Montana’s State BPA Communications Director. He will have the opportunity to attend the National Leadership Conference in Dallas in May to participate in leadership training.
Thirteen Columbus students completed at the State Leadership Conference by taking tests and making presentations on a wide variety of topics, from business law and ethics to entrepreneurship. Junior Kolton Gladney led the group with a sixth place finish in Human Resource Management.
At the state conference, the Columbus chapter was recognized for successfully fundraising the most funds of any BPA club in the state for the Montana Special Olympics. The Montana BPA Organization as a whole raised more than $12,200 for the Special Olympics.
Advisor Mark Ranstrom described the BPA year as “very exciting and productive.”