Whitmer High Students Win National Competition
A talented team of students from Whitmer High School has earned national recognition, taking home top honors at the Business Professionals of America (BPA) National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida.
The team, TJ Hutchen, Trinity Ortman, Mikayla Wazbinski, and PJ Aubry, competed in the Broadcast News Production category, where they created a full news segment featuring original stories and weather coverage. The journey to nationals began with a regional victory, followed by a win at the state level. After each round, the students made improvements, sharpening their skills and refining their project.
“I loved working with my partners,” said PJ Aubry. “It was a fun process, but also stressful with deadlines. Still, it was all worth it.”
TJ Hutchen, who handled the editing, shared how the experience fueled his passion: “I’ve been editing for two years — it’s like my hobby. I’ve really improved my skills, and I loved being able to bring our ideas to life.”
Under the guidance of media arts teacher Adam Pickard, the team thrived in a real-world learning environment. Pickard praised their dedication:
“When we landed in Orlando, I told them, ‘I don’t care if you come in last — I’m just proud we made it here.’ The work they put in is what got them this far.”
At nationals, the top-tier teams were given just a few hours to create a new segment. When Whitmer’s team was announced as the overall winner, emotions ran high.
“It was surreal,” said Hutchen. “I thought, ‘God, we made it!’ All the work really paid off.”
This win reflects not only their technical skills but also the teamwork, perseverance, and passion behind their success, a proud moment for Whitmer High School and the Toledo community.
