On the Rise:
Finding her Voice through Business Professionals of America
Zionsville Community High School Chapter of Business Professionals of America has teams headed to state competition
Zionsville Community High School Chapter of Business Professionals of America has teams headed to state competition
Business Professionals of America (BPA) at Zionsville Community High School is a place where students test ideas, build confidence, and step into leadership. This year, the team is celebrating strong performances across competitions, with students representing ZCHS in a wide range of business, communication, and technology events.
In this video conversation, ZCHS junior Garisha Kumari reflects on how BPA has helped shape her voice, her confidence, and her vision for the future. Her story is one example of the impact this program is having on students across the BPA team. Together, these students are learning to lead, present, and think critically about the world around them.
Watch the conversation below to hear Garisha’s perspective and to learn more about the accomplishments and momentum of the ZCHS BPA team. Then continue reading for the full On the Rise feature story.
Junior Garisha Kumari talks about her journey through Zionsville Community Schools and her involvement in the Business Professionals of America
A voice.
A leader.
A future.
On the Rise:
Finding Her Voice Through BPA
Through Business Professionals of America, ZCHS junior Garisha Kumari is building confidence, stepping into leadership, and using her voice to explore business and culture through a global lens.
For Zionsville Community High School junior Garisha Kumari, Business Professionals of America became more than an activity. It became a place where she could grow into her voice and discover how her ideas could make an impact.
“BPA is essentially a business club at our school,” she explains, “but it’s also a platform to put yourself out there, speak your mind, and grow your confidence.”
That platform quickly became meaningful for Garisha, who joined as a sophomore while searching for a space that allowed her to explore more deeply her interests in business, communication, and leadership.
After entering a prepared speech event in her first year, she earned first place at regionals and advanced to state. That experience helped her realize how much she enjoyed speaking and sharing ideas that mattered to her.
“It has really increased my confidence since I joined,” she says. “It gave me something that allowed me to grow.”
Her speech topics reflect both personal experience and global awareness. After immigrating to the United States in 2020, Garisha chose to focus on cultural awareness and ethical leadership in business.
“As a person of color and someone who moved here from India, it was important to me to bring light to how important cultural awareness is,” she says.
This year, she began exploring how companies build trust and respond to challenges, asking deeper questions about leadership, responsibility, and communication.
Those experiences have shaped her goals for the future. Garisha is considering a path in international relations, business, or law, with a desire to represent communities that are often underrepresented.
“I want to help people who are like me,” she explains. “Business allows me to talk about important issues and bring attention to things that aren’t always seen.”
Beyond competition, BPA has opened the door to leadership. Garisha now serves as the Region 8 President, a role that allows her to represent fellow BPA students and help guide initiatives across schools. Seeing other students step into leadership inspired her to try.
“If they can do it, I might as well try,” she says. “Just seeing people who are willing to go out there and lead made me want to do that too.”
Garisha also credits her experience in Zionsville Community Schools with helping her feel welcomed and supported after moving to a new country.
“When you move somewhere new, you’re scared,” she reflects. “But this community really showed me that it’s okay to be different and that you’re welcome here.”
From multilingual signage on the stairs and walls at Zionsville West Middle School to clubs and opportunities that celebrate student voices, she found a place where she could participate, grow, and lead.
Her journey is one example of the momentum building within the ZCHS BPA program. Students are competing, presenting, and developing skills that extend beyond the classroom. Through events, leadership roles, and collaboration, they are learning how to communicate effectively, think critically, and lead with purpose.
For Garisha, that growth continues each time she steps up to speak.
“It’s allowed me to see things in a bigger way,” she says. “I’ve grown more confident in who I am and what I want to do.”
Through BPA and her experiences at ZCHS, Garisha is already building the foundation for that future. And alongside her classmates, she is part of a program where students are learning not only how to compete, but how to lead, connect, and make their voices heard.
Congratulations!
In December, Zionsville Community High School competed in the Region 8 BPA (Business Professionals of America) Leadership Conference at Ben Davis High School.
Zionsville placed first in all seven team events:
- Small Business Management Team
- Presentation Team
- Parliamentary Team
- Financial Analyst Team
- Economic Research Team
- Broadcast News Production Team
- Global Marketing Team
Zionsville had 17 students place in the top three in eleven Individually Judged Events.
Zionsville also had 26 students place in the top six in 12 Written Test Events.
Lastly, 23 students achieved the “Diplomat” Level Torch Award which recognizes students who complete and document activities in seven different leadership categories.
All of those qualifiers are now eligible to attend the BPA State Leadership Conference in March where Zionsville will compete with high schools across the state of Indiana.
As the team advances to state, we are grateful to the Zionsville Education Foundation (ZEF) for a matching Student Enrichment Grant, funded by State Bank, that helped make this opportunity possible. Students also played an active role by fundraising to support the experience.
Top qualifiers from the state event will be eligible to compete in Nashville, TN, at the National Conference in May.
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