BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS OF AMERICA '05 graduate is the first woman to win award

Lisa Hohman also won a scholarship from Treasured Moments Video and DVD.
By MONICA BOND
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CORTLAND -- A Lakeview High School Class of 2005 graduate is the first woman to win the Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference competition.
Lisa Hohman of Cortland won first place for her infomercial at a conference in Anaheim, Calif., earlier this year. She is the first person from Ohio to win this competition, and the first woman to win it, organizers said.
In addition to her classes at Lakeview, Hohman attended the Interactive Multimedia Tech Prep program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.
John Bagnola, Hohman's instructor, said many high school students attend TCTC in their junior and senior years.
"Students come here and take preparatory classes for their field of choice in college," he said. "We have 40 programs, seven of which are college tech prep."
The interactive multimedia program includes photography, animation and graphic arts, Bagnola said.
Hohman said Business Professionals of America is a national club for high school and college students that helps build professionalism and leadership.
The club has about 48,600 members in 30 states, Bagnola said. Ohio is the largest, with 9,600 members.
Bagnola said Hohman competed against about 100 other high school students at the national competition in Anaheim.
Selling her style
Hohman answered questions from a panel of judges for 20 minutes and then showed her three-minute infomercial.
"I made an infomercial advertising Business Professionals of America for high school students who might be interested in joining the BPA," she said.
Bagnola said Hohman used all the facets of the class in her infomercial.
"She even used a green screen and put herself in places where she wasn't," he added.
Hohman won first place in Ohio and received a trophy; she received a plaque for her win at nationals, Bagnola said.
"She deserved it," he said.
Because of her awards, Hohman also garnered a $1,000 college scholarship from Treasured Moments Video and DVD of Austintown.
Hohman said she recently registered at Kent State University, where she plans to pursue a degree in electronic media.
"I'd like to edit commercials, direct movies, things like that," she said.