Our Frenship High School Tigers are on the move! After a successful State BPA Contest, five students and one alternate team are leveling up to the National Competition in Orlando, Florida this May.
Congratulations to the following students:
- Preston Lowder- Banking and Finance, 7th Place
- Arien Garza, Michael Maddox, Camden Reese, and Osirus Zepeda- Video Production Team, 2nd place
- Jaxson Bailey, Cole Keeton, and Brayden Tomlinson- Broadcast News Production, 5th Place (National Alternate)
Michael Maddox, who competed in the promotional photography division placed in the top 20 at State. “To advance to Nationals, he had to be in the top 10. But being one of 20 is a huge deal,” said Wendy Jones, BPA Sponsor.
This year’s success at State is a promising sign for the future of the BPA program at Frenship.
“I hope that the new sponsor, Mrs. Jones, will be able to grow the program and that we are able to get a new chapter started at Memorial High School next year,” said Deanna Luning, BPA Sponsor.
Jones emphasized the leadership, professionalism, and business skills that students gain through BPA.
“With our officer team, I have seen tremendous growth,” said Jones. “Our Secretary ran for Regional President, showing great courage and determination to represent our Chapter well. Our Vice President ran for State Officer, which required hours of work, interviews, and even speaking in front of the entire State. All of the students worked tirelessly on their projects, learning to work under pressure, think critically, and solve problems efficiently.”
Two of Frenship’s teams placed among the top in the State for Video Production and Broadcast News. One of their teachers, Devin Ward, credits all of their hard work and dedication for their success.
“It was their hard work and dedication that earned them top spots in the state,” said Ward. “The students were given the prompt, ‘The Farm to Table Movement.’ They took that idea and ran with it, creating an excellent story. We did a feature piece on The Co-Op here in town and how they grow their produce in-house. From there, they had to create a presentation, practicing multiple times a week. It was their determination to be great that helped them stand out!”
Ward also expressed his pride in the students.
“It was our first year competing in BPA for Mrs. Arellano and me, and for us to take Top 5 in both contests that we competed in is simply amazing! We are so proud of them for setting the standard for our program and showing the state of Texas what Frenship.TV is all about,” said Ward.
The BPA sponsors shared their favorite moments from the State Competition, which ranged from personal growth to unexpected adventures.
“For me, it was all about creating memories with our students,” said Ward. “For some of them, it was their first time ever traveling for a school competition, so we made it a goal to make it memorable. We did everything together over the course of the competition, and the moments we shared made it special.”
Jones reflected on the personal connections she built with the students.
“Getting to know students on a more personal level and encouraging them to be their best was truly rewarding,” said Jones. “It was an overall great trip, and I look forward to seeing what these wonderful Tigers will do in the future.”
Luning’s favorite moment came during the awards ceremony.
“My most memorable moment would be the look on Preston’s face when his name was announced as one of the eight who got to go on stage,” said Luning.
Competing in BPA equips students with valuable skills that prepare them for their future careers.
“BPA provides a comprehensive platform for students to develop and refine their leadership, professionalism, and business skills, preparing them for future careers and personal growth,” said Jones.
Ward emphasized the real-world applications of the competition.
“This contest required them to go out in the world, network, and communicate with others,” said Ward. “They had to learn presentation skills on top of their video creation skills. They had to connect with their interviews and create a story on their own. It was tremendous to see.”
Luning also noted how BPA challenges students to step out of their comfort zones.
“It gives them exposure to different types of people in the competition and among the judges,” said Luning. “This helps them learn to pivot from what they are used to in our Lubbock bubble.”
As the BPA program continues to grow, the sponsors look forward to the future.
“We truly have some amazing students and administrators who allow us the opportunity to step out of the classroom and explore new ideas,” said Jones. “This helps students gain confidence in presenting themselves professionally while also motivating others to make strategic decisions and handle their responsibilities effectively.”
“We are proud of all of our students who competed,” added Ward. “We showed heart, grit, and determination. Frenship Nation was represented so well at BPA State, and we are excited to see our students shine at Nationals.”
For Luning, this year has been especially meaningful.
“This year has been one of the most fun years that I have had being a BPA sponsor, from watching students grow to the excitement that Molly Arellano and Devin Ward had as they learned all about BPA,” she said. “It’s bittersweet that I hand off the reins, but now I can focus more on recruiting my students for the organization and helping them be successful.”
As Frenship High School’s BPA students prepare for Nationals, they carry with them the lessons, friendships, and skills they’ve gained along the way. Congratulations to all of these hardworking Tigers!