Lily Sarder shows the first place trophy and medal she won earlier this month at the Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference in Nashville. (Courtesy photo)

CRYSTAL FALLS — Lily Sarder, a 2026 graduate of Forest Park High School, earned a first place award at the Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference on May 6-10 in Nashville.

She won the award in the category of Fundamental Desktop Publishing. She qualified for nationals after scoring high enough at a state conference.

The competition involved designing various business items for a made-up company called Southwave Music.

“I created fliers, newspapers, logos, postcards and more,” Sarder said. “I had 1.5 hours to make three documents, and at Nationals it was followed by a multiple choice test on graphic design principles.”

She chose desktop publishing because she had learned how to use Photoshop and do graphic design in her technology classes with teacher Debbie Smithson.

“Mrs. Smithson told me that I would be great at desktop publishing,” Sarder said.

In her junior year she also qualified for nationals and completed in Integrated Office. She qualified for the State Leadership Conference in Interview Skills as well.

Sarder said she has been involved in the organization since her sophomore year, on the recommendation of older students.

“I decided to join BPA because of the upperclassmen ahead of me encouraging me to join and telling me about how much fun it is,” she said.

She believes BPA as a whole has helped her a great deal in learning how to act in professional settings.

“It teaches kids how to talk with new people and network,” she said. “The Desktop Publishing in particular has helped me with improving my graphic design skills.”

She used it in her media class and while working on the school yearbook.

“I have also used my graphic design skills to help design small projects for random things that people reach out to me for,” she added.

Sarder plans to study aviation flight science at Western Michigan University, with the goal of becoming an airline pilot. She has studied for the past two years to earn her private pilot license.

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Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.