By Nick Partie
State President

Torch awards are the non-competitive, service-oriented component of Business Professionals of America. The program is designed to allow the members of BPA to grow not only as skilled business professionals, but also as philanthropic students. Through this program, BPA students have the opportunity to stay actively involved in their community while gaining recognition at different levels according to the extent of their involvement. This program also provides public recognition for the organization as a whole.

The Torch Awards program is broken up into seven different categories. Within each category is a variety of service activities related to the specific topic. For example, an activity in the leadership category may be: serving as a class officer or representative. Aside from leadership, there is also love/hope/faith, knowledge, patriotism, cooperation, friendship, and service.

Depending on how active you are in each category, determines how far you advance. Each activity that you participate in is worth a certain amount of points. Ten (10) points in each category are required to make it to the executive level which is the local chapter, 30 points are required to be a diplomat which is the regional level, 50 to be a statesman which is the state level, and 70 points are required to be an ambassador, which is the national level.

So how exactly do you go about participating in the Torch Awards Program? Well, it is required that you log all of this information in the form of an online résumé. The online system is very simple; you are assigned a username and password that you can log onto to record your involvement. Once you logon, you can edit your activities by simply clicking the edit button. From there you can change anything you would like as you go. To add activities, you simply scroll to the bottom and click the add activities button. Then you select the category, then the activity, and record how you fit the description. The amount of points the activity is worth and the maximum usage is also recorded on this page.
Prior to submission, it is the advisor's responsibility to review all of the résumés. This job requires going through each activity and making sure that there are no errors. It is common that this role is delegated to a local vice-president or officer to do the reviewing. The students delegated to must do as the advisor would. Students also are responsible for setting up activities for the Torch Awards Program such as flag folding, displays, etc. Once recorded, students finally wait for approval.

So why should you participate in the Torch Awards Program? By doing Torch Awards, there are typically scholarship opportunities within the organization. As a senior this year, by participating in Torch awards makes it so much easier having all of my service documented in a way that can easily be transferred onto college applications, profile pages, essays, etc. Also, you get the opportunity to advance onto different levels of competition. By doing so, you can compete in Open Events, take part in the leadership activities offered at each level, and obviously enjoy all of the fun that goes along with each conference.

The deadline for the Diplomat Torch Award is November 23, 2011. Students do not need to participate in the Diplomat level in order to be recognized for the Statesman Award. More details are available on the Torch Awards Page by clicking here.