SWCC students qualify for national business competition

Four Southwestern Community College (SWCC) students from SWCC's business and information technology department participated in competition with their peers during the Iowa Business Professionals of America (BPA) 2026 Spring Leadership Conference at the Sheraton Hotel in West Des Moines, February 15-16, 2026.

All four students placed well, earning 14 first places and finishing in the top five in 10 of their respective categories, qualifying them to compete at the BPA national conference in May.

Students and their placings follow:

• Mariah Sparks of Corning, Associate of Applied Arts student with a major in business administration, placed first in eight competitions including administrative support, digital marketing, and graphic and web design areas; third in health administration concepts and project management concepts; and fifth in parliamentary procedure concepts;
• Victoria Fletchall of Villisca, Associate of Applied Science degree student with a major in accounting, finished first in banking & finance, as well as college accounting, third in meeting and event planning, fourth in project management concepts, and fifth in digital communication and design concepts and digital marketing concepts and management, marketing, and human resources concepts;
• Daisy Waetzig of Lamoni, Associate of Applied Science student with a major in business administration, placed first in fundamental spreadsheet application and interview skills, and fourth in college accounting;
• Lorelei Herrod of Creston, Associate of Applied Science degree student in business administration, placed first in fundamental word processing and third in college accounting.

The team of Fletchall, Herrod, and Sparks earned first place in the administrative support team category. Herrod is not able to attend the national competition; therefore, Waetzig will serve as her replacement during the team event.

The 2026 BPA National Leadership Conference will be held in Nashville, Tennessee, from May 6-10, 2026, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. The national event features competitive events, workshops, and a national showcase for virtual competition.

Holly Booth, SWCC business instructor and BPA sponsor, will accompany the students to the national conference.

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Pictured above: (L to R) - Southwestern Community College business students Lorelei Herrod of Creston; Daisy Waetzig of Lamoni; Victoria Fletchall of Villisca; and Mariah Sparks of Corning.