On May 6-10, 2026, Hellgate Business Professionals of America competed at the National Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. 16 competitors computed in a combination of judged individual, team, and tested events. Each national competitor qualified in early March by placing in the top 3 for judged events and top five competitors for tested events. Hellgate had competitors across a variety of disciplines, like Website Design, Interview, Accounting, Financial Management, and Prepared Speech.
Of the 16 Hellgate competitors, eight made it to the top 10 in their events. Last year’s national champions in Virtual Branding Team, Kieran Alviar, Jasper Alviar, Petra Seban, and Lucy Schoenen took second place in the same event. Sophomore Bonnie Groenenboom placed 3rd in Interview Skills, Senior Murray Lane placed 4th in Personal Financial Management, Sophomore Davis Bodnar took 6th in Financial Math and Analysis and 4th with Kieran and Jasper Alviar in Website Design Team, Junior Jasper Alviar placed 7th in Administrative Support Concepts, and Senior Zach Baldwin placed 8th in Prepared Speech. In addition, several students earned industry certifications by taking Certiport exams.
“Of the 16 that went, 50% of them were in the top 10 in the nation. One student was up there three times, another one was up there twice. So it was phenomenal, the successes that the students had. And Hellgate really outshined everybody,” said Beth Huguet, Hellgate’s BPA advisor, noting that Hellgate had the most success in the top 10 of any Montana high school.
Huguet was extremely happy to see the success the chapter had, as it is her last year at Hellgate. She said “the last one was melancholy. Every day that went by was that much closer to me never doing it again.” She said that what she would miss most about advising was “having that incredible interaction with the students. It gives me hope. It’s such a joy to do nationals, because it gives me hope, it proves to me that the future of the world is in good hands with students as potential leaders for the future.”
In addition to the chapter, Huguet had her own highlight at the state conference this year, being inducted into the Montana BPA Hall of Fame.
The chapter will be advised by business teacher Nathan Ryan next year. The transition will be made easier because most of the current officer team are underclassmen. Huguet said,“I hope that it stays on the same momentum that we can keep our numbers, and that kids will continue to challenge themselves, put their best foot forward, and take it seriously.” Huguet sees the community that BPA brings to her students, and gives an opportunity for academic competition of other extracurriculars like sports.
The 2027 National Leadership Conference will be held in Denver, Colorado, and the theme will be Elevate Your Legacy. Huguet hopes to see many Hellgate members returning even with the changes to the chapter next year.
