Joshua Ngetich takes third in two competitions at BPA Virtual SLC

Joshua Ngetich, 35, a student in the Accounting program at Dakota County Technical College, took third place in the Fundamental Accounting and Fundamental Spreadsheet Applications competitions at the Business Professionals of America (BPA) 2021 Virtual State Leadership Conference (SLC).

The SLC competition, both proctored and judged events, occurred February 22–25, 2021. The SLC Awards Ceremony took place virtually Saturday, February 26, 2021.

Joshua’s performance at the SLC qualified him to advance to the 2021 Virtual National Leadership Conference (NLC) May 5–9, 2021. This year’s conference theme is “Envision, Empower, Ignite.”

“I feel excited and ready to take up the challenge,” Josh said. “I’m looking forward to healthy competition and emerging the best.”

Marie Saunders serves as accounting faculty at DCTC. Marie also serves as the college’s BPA faculty advisor. She started teaching at DCTC in 1997.

“I first met Josh virtually while he was taking my ACCT 1306 Spreadsheets course,” Marie said. “I was impressed by his interest in not only learning, but mastering the material. I also had the opportunity during our virtual meetings to ask him to join our BPA chapter, which he did. This has been an exceptional year with students learning virtually. Asking them to participate in a Student Life organization that is virtual as well has been challenging. I am not surprised in Josh’s ability to do well in our BPA State Leadership Conference given his dedication as a student.” 

More about the SLC…

The annual State Leadership Conference in Minnesota requires nearly 100 experienced professionals to judge in the following business areas:

• Finance
• Business Administration
• Management Information Systems
• Digital Communication & Design
• Management, Marketing and Communication

About BPA

Business Professionals of America is the nation’s leading CTSO (Career and Technical Student Organization) for students pursuing careers in business management, information technology, finance, accounting office administration, and other business-related career fields.

With 45,000 members in more than 1,800 chapters across 25 states and Puerto Rico, BPA is a co-curricular organization that supports business and information technology educators by offering co-curricular exercises based on national standards.

Dakota County Technical College hosts a BPA chapter on campus. BPA resources and materials are available online and designed to be customized to a college’s programs.

BPA links

Business Professionals of America • National Website
Business Professionals of America • Minnesota Division

Workplace Skills Assessment Program (WSAP)

The Workplace Skills Assessment Program (WSAP) prepares students to succeed and assesses real-world business skills and problem solving abilities in finance, management, IT and computer applications. As BPA’s showcase program, WSAP facilitates opportunities for students to demonstrate their career skills at regional, state and national conferences.

Other BPA major programs include the scholarship program, the National Leadership Academy and National Officer Elections. The Torch Awards Program and Special Recognition Awards Program recognize students and chapters, respectively, for their leadership and service to the community.

LEARN MORE…

More about Joshua…

Joshua is earning an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Accountant at DCTC. He works full-time as a medical laboratory technologist at Northfield Hospital & Clinics Lab while going to college.

Earning his accounting degree is a keystone aspect of his plan to transition to a different career path. Josh is scheduled to graduate from DCTC summer 2022. He has plans to enter the accounting field straightaway.

“My goal is to learn how to do financial analysis and be able to interpret financial concepts and apply them in any field for corporations or industries that would need these services,” he said. “I would want to develop these skills and build myself toward doing business, networking and having financial independence.”

Originally from Kericho County in western Kenya, Josh graduated from Cheborge High School in 2005. Kericho County is famous for producing some of the world’s best tea. Josh and his family moved to the United States in September 2016.

Josh and his wife, Emily, have a 5-year-old daughter named Joy. Emily is a recent DCTC graduate, having earned her Practical Nursing diploma in summer 2020.

In his free time, Joshua enjoys gardening and playing soccer. Josh, Emily and Joy reside in Northfield, Minnesota, on northern side of the city in Dakota County.

One word that best describes your time at DCTC:

AMBITIOUS

Joshua Ngetich • Q & A

What do you like most about your Accounting courses at DCTC?

Financial concepts and diversification, and more so understanding taxes

Why did you choose accounting as your career field?

I’m trying to build myself to become independent business owner, and I thought financial background would be a great plus towards it.

How did you prepare for your competitions at the 2021 Virtual SLC?

I consulted and read through past assignments and classwork.

Three words that describe you as a college student:
HONEST. MOTIVATED. LOYAL.

What advice would you give students thinking about competing at a BPA State Leadership Conference?

Be confident, composed and take time to understand the question or projects

What person has influenced you the most in life?

Elon Musk

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

Retired and holidaying with my wife

More about Accounting at DCTC…

As a student in the Accounting program at DCTC, you will be trained to analyze, interpret and record financial information regarding the operations and financial condition of businesses and organizations.

Working with spreadsheet and accounting software, you will acquire the skills necessary to prepare financial statements, tax returns and government forms.

You will also learn federal and state tax and payroll laws. Accountants need to be lifelong learners with the ability to work with all aspects of business.

Award options

Accountant A.A.S. degree (60 credits): Provides basic and intermediate accounting skills to prepare you to enter the workforce as an accountant, or to transfer and obtain advanced degrees.

Accountant diploma (54 credits): Provides basic and intermediate skills to prepare you to enter the workforce as an accountant.

Accounting Clerk diploma (32 credits): Provides basic accounting skills you’ll need to obtain a career as an accounting clerk.

Small Business Accounting certificate (16 credits): Provides accounting skills for an entrepreneur to start or manage a business, or for administrative personnel involved in the accounting function of a business.

LEARN MORE…

Joshua Ngetich • 10 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: Soccer
2. Place you would most like to visit: Hawaii
3. The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Volunteering in anything available so long as I touch another person’s life in the process
   
4. Three things you would do if you won a $1 billion lottery: 1) Invest 2) Settle or clear pending bills 3) Build or fund charities
5. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Financial freedom
6. Your national bird if you were your own country: Eagle
7. Dream occupation: Financial analyst
8. Person you would most like to meet: Elon Musk
   
9. Skill you would most like to learn and master: Taxes
10. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Poverty and debt

Learn more about Accounting at DCTC by contacting:

Marie Saunders
Accounting Faculty
651-423-8390

Lyle Stelter
Accounting Faculty
651-423-8423

Karianne Loula
Academic & Financial Aid Advisor
651-423-8583

Learn more about BPA at DCTC by contacting:

Marie Saunders
Accounting Faculty
BPA Chapter Faculty Advisor
651-423-8390

Amy Evanson
Administrative Technology Faculty
BPA Chapter Faculty Advisor
651-423-8239

Accountants and Auditors

Interpret budget statements in order to give financial advice.

WAGE

This is a very high-wage career that pays well above the statewide median of $21.49/hour

Minnesota

Median: $33.06/hour
High: $40.61/hour

Seven-county Twin Cities metro

Median: $34.10/hour
High: $42.18/hour

OUTLOOK

In Minnesota, there are 23,210 workers employed in this very large career, which is currently in very high demand and seeing high growth compared to other careers. Growth rate in the Minnesota is 6.5 percent.

There will be a need for about 23,113 new Accountants and Auditors to meet market demand between 2018–2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

— Minnesota State CAREERwise Education