Montana student entrepreneur, Kyle Weierman recognized

Kyle Weierman has a plan and he has patience.

The Roberts High School sophomore plans to launch a landscaping business, but he’s set his sights on the spring of 2007.

"That’s because I want to secure financial security," he explained.

Such insight is indicative of Weierman’s business plan, a plan that earned him top honors as this year’s up-and-coming entrepreneur at Montana’s Business Professionals of America competition held recently in Great Falls. BPA is a career and technical student organization that promotes education in a wide range of business-related fields.

Weierman, who took first place in the Entrepreneurship category, was one of 1,260 Montana students from 85 schools – Class AA to C – to compete at the state BPA Conference. The Roberts High School BPA Chapter was also singled out for the Spirit of Professionalism Award, a recognition given to the chapter that best displays the BPA standards.

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"The community support has been immense," Kessner said. "They love to see their students do well in academics along with sports."

For the next few weeks, the BPA Chapter is looking for continued support as it holds fundraisers to send its qualifiers to the national competition.

"Being a club to promote business practices, we just feel it’s really important the kids work and earn for their experiences," Kessner said.

(Please do what you can to help support this organization and these Montana entrepreneurs of the future.)

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If you want to help.

The following fundraisers support sending Roberts students to the national BPA Convention:

April 9: Bingo night at Roberts School, with prizes and cash donated by local businesses.

Through April 9: Quilt raffle, tickets on sale at Roberts School.

Any donations of funds or items for the silent auction or bingo prizes are appreciated. For more information, call 445-2421.

Other area BPA winners:

Fundamental accounting: Jennifer Majerus, Saco; Advanced accounting: Cortney Riggs, Powder River; Computerized accounting: Amanda Beckers, Billings Senior; Payroll accounting: Nicole Schonenbach, Powder River; Spreadsheet apps and analysis: Zachary Nordahl, Rapelje; Banking and finance: Derrick Gratwohl, Laurel; Financial analyst team: Eric Berg, Chennell Brewer, Tom Rader, White Sulphur Springs; Econ research project – individual: Jay Jovkick, Park; Econ research project – team: Amanda Hedtke, Kolette Johnson, Jessica Smith, Absarokee; Keyboarding production: Kayla Branch, Billings Skyview; Fundamental word processing: Erick Hjelvik, Melstone; Adv. Word processing: Korry Becker, Colstrip; Integrated Office, Apps.: Chase Cameron, Melstone; Desktop publishing: Rebecca Snape, Rapelje; Basic office systems: Rebecca Snape, Rapelje; Adv. Office systems: Kendra Strickler, Belgrade; Legal office procedures: Koryn Nolimeyer-Haight, Shields Valley; Medical office procedures: Jennifer Ketchell, Stanford; Database applications: Amanda Rees, Billings Skyview; C++ programming: Cody Wenzel, Powder River; VISUAL basic programming: Eric Berg, White Sulphur Springs; Java programming: Jared Schrupp, Colstrip; Computer network tech.: Derek Fuchs, Billings Skyview; PC servicing and troubleshooting: Steven Riehl, Billings Skyview; CISCO systems admin.: Trent Parks, Billings Skyview; Microsoft network admin.: Tyler Hirschi, Billings Skyview; Network design team: Derek Fuchs, Tyler Hirschi, Trent Parks, Matt Peters, Billings Skyview; Website development team: Josh Burnham, Nate Carr, Joseph Dahilhausen, Tom Metcalfe, Hobson; Digital media production: Michael Lin, Bozeman; Fundamentals of HTML: David Souther, Billings Senior; Global marketing team: Melissa Hollowell, Bethany Walter, Mat Walter, Huntley Project; Entrepreneurship: Kyle Weierman, Roberts; Small business management team: Matt Bick Vincent Castro, Brendon DeCock, Paul Kragt, Huntley Project; Graphic design promotion: Michael Keating, Rapelje; Interview skills: Melissa Hollowell, Huntley Project; Adv. Interview skills: Bethany Walter, Huntley Project; Extemporaneous speech: Leo Ogg, Cascade; Human resource management: Casey Roen, Stanford; Prepared speech: Gillette Vaira, Lambert; Presentation management – ind.: Nick LeTang, Colstrip; Presentation management – team: Christine Cox, Jordan Gerber, Billings Skyview; Parliamentary pro team: Heidi Grove, Kaleigh Mikkelsen, Julia Noel, Jennifer Rogers, Craig Wichman, Hobson.

By LINDA HALSTEAD-ACHARYA
Of The Gazette Staff

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