The event took place later than expected, but Sidney’s students exceeded expectations at the Business Professional of America’s National Leadership Conference held in Dallas June 15-21.

The conference was originally scheduled in May but was postponed because of the H1N1 flu outbreak. Sidney’s 33 BPA students raised $40,000 to attend the conference. Although some recent graduates needed to change their college orientation schedules, only three of the students didn’t make the trip.

Sidney had five students earn individual honors at the conference including three who placed in the top three. Each of the students were members of the class of 2009. The school never had anyone earn top three honors before.

Bill Vander Weele | Sidney Herald Students earning honors at the national conference were, front from left, Cortney Zentner and Shelby Brunsvold; back, Emmarie Schledewitz, Michael Hammer and Kynzie Brown.

“It was very exciting,” Elaine Stedman, advisor, said.

Cortney Zentner earned first-place honors in management, marketing and human resources.

Michael Hammer and Shelby Brunsvold each placed third in competitions.

Hammer took third place in management, marketing and human resources.

Brunsvold earned third place in basic office systems. She added a fourth-place showing in keyboarding production.

Emmarie Schledewitz placed sixth in management, marketing and human resources.

Kynzie Brown took 10th place in administrative office.

The students said other highlights of the trip included going to Six Flags Over Texas, “Medieval Times” in Dallas, and experiencing an audio tour of the book depository from where Lee Harvey Oswald is believed to have assassinated President Kennedy.

editor@sidneyherald.com