Davenport University once again demonstrated its leadership and excellence in business as 16 students competed at the 2025 Business Professionals of America (BPA) National Leadership Conference, held May 6–11 in Orlando, Florida.

The weeklong conference featured competitive events in business administration, finance, information technology, marketing and leadership, allowing students to showcase their skills and earn national recognition. In addition to competitions, the NLC includes professional development workshops, certification opportunities and leadership programming—preparing students to thrive in academic, professional and civic life.

The students delivered an outstanding performance, bringing home numerous national awards, including 10 first-place, five second-place, and eight third-place honors, totaling 43 top-ten placements across a range of individual and team events.

Teamwork took center stage as Davenport’s Financial Analyst Team earned first place, and the Small Business Management Team secured third place, showcasing the university’s excellence in collaborative and strategic thinking.

Among the most notable achievements:

Matthew Gaydos emerged as a standout competitor with a record-breaking performance, earning first place in five events, second place in two, and third place in one, making him the top-performing student from Davenport University and one of the most decorated competitors in the nation.

Skyla Giang distinguished herself with first place in two events and a third-place finish, exemplifying her strong versatility and business acumen.

This year’s performance builds upon Davenport’s strong showing at the 2024 BPA NLC in Chicago, where 14 members brought home over 50 top-ten finishes. The consistency of results year-over-year underscores the strength of the university’s BPA chapter and the quality of its academic and co-curricular programming.

“We are incredibly proud of our students’ continued success at the national level,” said Scott Gumieny, faculty advisor for the BPA chapter at Davenport University. “Their commitment, preparation and professionalism represent what Davenport strives to instill in all its students.”

The Business Professionals of America NLC is a premier annual event bringing together thousands of high-achieving students nationwide to network and compete in business, finance, technology and leadership disciplines. Davenport University’s continued presence and success at this national stage speak to its mission to prepare graduates to excel in an ever-evolving global marketplace.