Conrad High School had eight students earn the right to attend Business Professionals of America Nationals in Nashville, Tennessee, this year from May 5th-10, 2026. Attending the National Conference this year is Reece Taylor, Lily Bingaman, Nolan Seidler, Bethany Heinen, Annie Baliko, Kaely Baney, Weston Orcutt, Asher Pettersen and advisors Amy Chambers and Monica Tomayer.
Conrad High School is proud to announce the National Business Professionals Student of the Year is our own Reece Taylor! This is a huge honor but well deserved for his four years of hard work and dedication to BPA events. Reece earned his way to Nationals all four years of high school in either database or advanced spreadsheet applications. He was also the campaign manager for two successful Montana State Officers, president and vice-president of the Conrad BPA chapter, contributed many hours of fundraising and contributed to the community through the sales of Conrad Community Calendars. We are very proud of all his accomplishments in BPA and throughout his high school career.
Conrad High School has one outgoing state officer and two incoming officers. Lily Bingaman finished her year at the Montana State Secretary, she did an outstanding job. Annie Baliko is the incoming Communications Director and Kaely Baney is the incoming Public Relations Director. These two young ladies started off their year at the National’s Montana State Meeting and will be doing great things throughout next school year.
Reece Taylor and Lily Bingaman also earned the Ambassador Torch Award which requires earning 70 points in each of the 7 Torch Award categories; Leadership, Service, Cooperation, Knowledge, Love, Hope and Faith, Friendship and Citizenship. Ambassador is the highest honor, students have to detail what they have accomplished in each of the 7 Torch Award categories.
Here are the competition results, to get to Nationals, students must be in the top 10 non-judged events and top 5 judged events at the Regional competition, then be in the top 5 non-judged events and top 3 judged events at State. These students compete against all the other 32 states that have BPA chapters at Nationals and three other countries. To be able to compete at Nationals takes a lot of hard work.
Nolan Seidler--23rd place in Database
Reece Taylor--31st place in Database
Bethany Heinen--35th place in Database
Asher Pettersen--47th place in Fundamentals of Web Design
Weston Orcutt--49th place in Fundamentals of Web Design
Annie Baliko--4th out of 10 in the section, overall 25th in Advanced Interview Skills
Annie Baliko-- 137th out of 487 in Meeting and Event Planning Concepts Open
Kaely Baney--255th out of 487 in Meeting and Event Planning Concepts Open
Lily Bingaman--258th out of 487 in Meeting and Event Planning Concepts Open
Bethany Heinen--313th out of 487 in Meeting and Event Planning Concepts Open
Bethany Heinen 26th out of 316 in Health Administration Concepts Open
Conrad BPA Chapter greatly appreciates the donations from 3 Rivers Communication, Sun River Electric, Monica and Jay Taylor, Community Calendar Businesses, Conrad Booster Club and those community members who purchased Drinks from the Drink Cart, Krispy Kreme Donuts, Chili and Cinnamon Roll Dinners and Community Calendars.