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Special Recognition Awards

Special Recognition Awards Program Overview


What is The Purpose?

The purpose of the Special Recognition Awards Program is to encourage individuals and chapters to support and promote their organizations.
What Awards Can I Win?




Applications are not required for the Merit Scholar, Professional Cup or Membership Explosion Award. These awards are given directly through National BPA.

Am I Eligible?

  • All applicants must be in good standing with Business Professionals of America. The awards are open to members in the Middle Level, Post-Secondary and Secondary Divisions.
  • It is not necessary for a chapter or individual to attend the National Leadership Conference to participate in the program and receive the award, except BPA Merit Scholar.
How Do I Submit?

  • Special Recognition Award applications except Merit Scholar, Professional Cup and Membership Explosion must be submitted utilizing the online application. Submission applications must include all activity descriptions. Partial applications will not be accepted or combined. Do not begin the application online submission form until you have completed all activities.
  • The Merit Scholar exam is offered at the National Leadership Conference.
  • The Professional Cup and Membership Explosion Award are determined on a national level based on the qualifications provided.
  • The activities may be used on other individual or chapter activities.
  • Activity descriptions cannot exceed 500 words in total.
  • All activity descriptions must include:
    1. title
    2. organization benefiting from the project
    3. date project completed
    4. location of the project and description of the project.

All materials submitted become the property of Business Professionals of America and may be used as the National Center deems appropriate.
How Will I Be Recognized?

  1. BPA Marketing: Public Relations: Chapters completing the minimum number of activities will receive a Certificate of Achievement. Chapters completing five (5) or more activities will receive an Award of Achievement and recognition on-stage at the National Leadership Conference.
  2. BPA Merit Scholar: Participants achieving 90% or more on the Open Exam offered at NLC will receive a BPA Merit Scholar pin during the Awards Session at the National Leadership Conference.
  3. Chapter Activities Award of Excellence: A plaque will be presented to each qualifying chapter on stage at the National Leadership Conference.
  4. Recruiter of the Year Award: Approved applicants will receive a Certificate of Achievement. Each year the applicant with the most points from recruiting new members and/or chapters in any division will be recognized with a plaque as National Recruiter of the Year at a General Session during the NLC.
  5. Social Media: Chapters who complete a minimum of four (4) activities will receive a Certificate of Achievement. The top chapter in each Division completing the most activities will receive an Award of Achievement and recognition on-stage at the National Leadership Conference.
  6. The Professional Cup: The award will be presented on stage at the National Leadership Conference. It will consist of a plaque for the state association to keep and the Professional Cup trophy with the state association's name and the year it was won engraved on a 10-year engraving plate. The Professional Cup trophy will be in the winning state association's possession for one year starting from the last day of the National Leadership Conference until the next National Leadership Conference, where it will be presented to the next winning state association.
  7. After the tenth year, the trophy will be retired and presented to the state within each division who won the award the most times during the ten years.
  8. Membership Explosion Award: Chapters with the minimum increase will receive a Certificate of Achievement. The top overall chapter in each division with the highest number growth will receive an Award of Achievement and recognition on-stage at the National Leadership Conference and the overall top-chapter in each division with the highest percentage growth will receive an Award of Achievement and recognition on-stage at the National Leadership Conference.