Mariner BPA Students Earn National Recognition for Sixth Consecutive Year

Mariner Middle School’s Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter continued its tradition of excellence on the national stage at the 2026 Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference 2026, held May 7–11, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee, earning multiple Top 10 finishes and representing Delaware with distinction.

Leading the way was Mariner’s Administrative Support Team competitors. Addison Brosius, Lily McLaren, Sophia Santini, and Natalie Wells earned an impressive 4th Place national finish, extending Mariner BPA’s remarkable streak to six consecutive years placing in the National Top 5 in the event. Additionally, Brody Bayless, Harlow Draper, Luke Csala, and Tyler Csala captured 6th Place nationally in Administrative Support Team, marking the third consecutive year that Mariner BPA has had two teams place in the National Top 10.

“The success of our Administrative Support Teams continues to reflect the exceptional collaboration, communication, and problem-solving abilities these students develop throughout the season,” said Mariner BPA Advisor Dr. Daniel Shockley. “These events require students to work together under pressure while completing a variety of real-world business tasks that mirror authentic workplace expectations. Continuing Mariner’s streak of national Top 10 finishes year after year speaks not only to their technical skills, but also to their professionalism, adaptability, and ability to function as a cohesive team.”

Special recognition was given to Harlow, who stepped into the role following the State Leadership Conference after Alameen Odeh was unable to attend Nationals. Despite joining the team late in the process, Harlow helped lead the group to a Top 10 national finish through adaptability, determination, and teamwork. “Watching Harlow step into a national-level team role after States and seamlessly contribute to a Top 10 finish was incredibly impressive,” added Shockley. “That situation required adaptability, confidence, and a willingness to embrace pressure very quickly. Harlow handled it with professionalism and maturity well beyond expectations.”

Mariner BPA was also represented by individual national qualifiers Aiden Jarusinski in Spreadsheet Applications and Kylie Carmean in Human Resource Management. Kylie made chapter history by becoming the first Mariner BPA member to qualify for and compete at the national level in Human Resource Management after earning 1st Place at the Delaware State Leadership Conference. Competing against some of the nation’s top students, Kylie finished 6th in Section 2 at Nationals. While she narrowly missed advancing as a national finalist, her dedication, professionalism, and commitment to personal growth throughout the season were noteworthy accomplishments.

“Kylie’s season represented exactly what BPA is designed to promote — growth, resilience, and the willingness to challenge yourself,” said Shockley. “Being the first student in chapter history to qualify for Nationals in Human Resource Management is already a significant accomplishment. Beyond that, I was especially proud of the way Kylie continuously sought feedback, worked to improve, and represented our chapter with professionalism throughout the entire process.”

Aiden, competing in his first year as a BPA member, qualified for Nationals in Spreadsheet Applications after earning 4th Place at the Delaware State Leadership Conference. He became only the third Mariner BPA student to ever qualify for Nationals in the event and the first male competitor in chapter history to do so. Throughout the season, Aiden demonstrated tremendous growth, maturity, and confidence while embracing the challenges of national competition.

“Aiden’s growth throughout this season was one of the most rewarding parts of the year to witness,” said Shockley. “He entered BPA without prior involvement, quickly embraced the challenge, and demonstrated tremendous maturity, composure, and determination along the way. Qualifying for Nationals in Spreadsheet Applications is an impressive accomplishment on its own, but the confidence and professionalism he developed throughout the process made an even greater impact.”

Beyond competition, students participated in leadership workshops, networking opportunities, and business-focused learning experiences while exploring the culture and history of Nashville. “These students represented Mariner Middle School, the Cape Henlopen School District, and the state of Delaware with incredible professionalism, leadership, and pride,” said Shockley. “Their accomplishments reflect countless hours of preparation, collaboration, and commitment to excellence both inside and outside the classroom. I could not be prouder of them.”

Mariner BPA would also like to recognize and thank the many sponsors, donors, families, friends, and community partners whose generosity helped make the chapter’s participation at the 2026 Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference 2026 possible. Special appreciation is extended to Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation (CHEF), Community Bank Delaware, Irish Eyes, Johnson Orthodontics, Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club, Mariner Middle School PTO, Milton Community Foundation, Coldwell Banker Premier / Rehoboth Realty, and Sussex County Council for their continued investment in student leadership and career readiness opportunities. Their support helped provide students with the opportunity to compete, lead, and represent the Mariner community on the national stage.

As Mariner BPA looks ahead, the chapter will celebrate 10 years of excellence during the 2026–2027 academic year — a milestone reflecting a decade of leadership development, competitive success, service, and student achievement at the regional, state, and national levels.

Business Professionals of America is a national career and technical student organization that prepares students for leadership and careers in business, finance, information technology, digital communication, and management through competitive events, service opportunities, and leadership development experiences.