Giving Purpose to Potential

2020-2021 State Officer Team

Shreya Bodhanapu  |  State President

Shreya Bodhanapu is a senior in the International Baccalaureate Program at Seminole High School. She is honored to serve as the 2020-2021 Florida Business Professionals of America State President and has many unique ideas to enhance the experience for all members. Over the past three years, Shreya has participated in a variety of events including Global Marketing Skills, Administrative Support Team, and Website Design. She also participated in BPA’s Virtual Leadership Academy in order to strengthen her leadership skills as a state officer.

Aside from BPA, Shreya has been an active member of her school’s Student Government Association since ninth grade. Her main role in the organization is to create flyers and other forms of advertisement for the school’s events. Moreover, as a volunteer of the organization PURE Youth, Shreya was able to raise over $1000 for underprivileged students in India. Some of Shreya’s other interests include dancing, sewing, and baking.

Business Professionals of America has inspired Shreya to choose a career in business and credits the organization for encouraging her to step outside her confront zone, improve her communication skills, and meet new people. She is thankful for all the experiences BPA has presented her and hopes that as a state officer, she can help other students explore their passion for business as well. Shreya hopes to attend college and pursue a degree in business/finance. Her ultimate goal is to one day establish her own finance firm in New York. Shreya is beyond excited to serve as your 2020-2021 State President and hopes to positively impact BPA the way it has on her.

Yash Vardhan  |  Vice President

Yash Vardhan is a Senior at Seminole High School and the FLBPA Vice President for the 2020-2021 school year. This is his fourth year in BPA and his second year as a Florida state officer. He is also a member of the school’s Video Production Team, in which he has placed second three times at the SLC. Yash has also placed fifth twice in Fundamental Math Concepts at the SLC.

Outside of BPA, Yash competes in the FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics competition, National History Fair, Tae Kwon Do, and Soccer. He also enjoys traditional Indian dance and playing the guitar. Additionally, Yash runs his own business called “Unavigate,” a service geared towards connecting high schoolers to college students in order to assist with the college application process.

Yash believes that BPA gives students the opportunity to gain leadership exposure and various new experiences. As a returning state officer, Yash believes that BPA has helped him learn skills in team working and organization that will help him in his term as Florida BPA’s Secondary Level Vice President. He also plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania to study business & engineering and hopes to one day open his own company.

Ryan Gross  |  Treasurer

Ryan Gross is an 11th grade student at Crooms Academy of Information Technology in Sanford, and is proud has to serve for the 2020-2021 school year as Treasurer of Florida BPA. This year will be Ryan’s third as a member of this organization. During his time so far as a member, he has attended two Florida SLCs as well as the 2019 NLC, and has learned numerous life and technical skills, earned several awards, and made connections with his fellow members at every step of the way.

While Business Professionals of America remains Ryan’s favorite extra-curricular organization to participate in, he is also involved with other organizations that align with his interests. As a math kid, he has been in his schools’ Math Clubs since elementary school, most recently being a part of Crooms’s Mu Alpha Theta club since ninth grade. Ryan has also been in the Scouts BSA program for over 10 years, and is currently working on his Eagle Scout rank while at the same time finding ways with his troop to support his community during these uncertain times. Outside of school, Ryan loves to design and build websites, and enjoys playing cards and games with his family and friends.

Ryan credits BPA with helping him develop connections with people who share common goals, helping him sharpen his technical and interpersonal skill sets through competition and collaboration, and providing him with opportunities that he never imagined he would have as a high school student. Says Ryan: "My experience in BPA has undoubtedly changed my life, and the memories I make and skills I learn in this organization will stay with me for many years to come." As the Treasurer of Florida BPA for the 2020-2021 school year, his goals are to improve the Florida Association of BPA any way he can, as well as to ensure an unforgettable experience for every member of Florida BPA during this time of uncertainty.

Diana Rudel  |  Historian

Diana Rudel is a junior at Pine View School in Sarasota, FL and proud to serve as FLBPA Historian for the 2020-2021 school year. She is a newer member, previously having started a BPA chapter at her school in fall of 2019. Nevertheless, she was quick to love and appreciate BPA and its mission.

While she spends a lot of time in BPA, Diana is involved in many other organizations, both in and out of school. She has been a teen attorney for Sarasota Teen Court for three years, helping to change so many lives. Diana is very passionate about equal opportunities in education and as a result, she serves on the Senior Advisory Council and BGC Youth Council and is heavily involved with Diversifying and Integrating Gifted Schools (DIGS) with the hopes of starting and registering a non-profit in this area. She also has some background in technology as a member of FIRST Robotics and Helping Hand Prosthetics, a small club building and providing free prosthetics to people in need of them in Peru. For fun, Diana likes to dance, read, sing, and watch TV shows and anime. She hopes to one day attend Wharton as a double major in finance and technology through the Jerome Fisher M&T dual major program.

Even as a recent addition to BPA, Diana has found so many new friends, connections, and opportunities through it. BPA has already given her the skills to lead, speak more effectively, and collaborate with others. As BPA Historian, Diana hopes to work hard and bringing initiatives that will make BPA more culturally diverse and inclusive for students from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Ryan Parker  |  Parliamentarian

Ryan Parker is a senior at Crooms Academy of Information Technology in Sanford, FL. Ryan has been a member of BPA for a year, but is eager to serve others and is always excited to learn even more about BPA and its members. He is a member of his school's Web Design Team and placed first place at the SLC.

Outside of BPA, Ryan serves as senior-class president at his school and is also the president of his school's National Honor Society chapter. Ryan also loves listening to and playing music. He hopes to attend the University of Central Florida in the future.

BPA has given Ryan the opportunity to explore possible career paths, connect with other members, and develop public speaking and leadership abilities. BPA has created a profound experience for Ryan and he is honored to be in a position where he can work towards extending this same level of support and love for all members.