The most recent unemployment numbers were released yesterday... the national rate jumping to eight-point-five percent.News 12's Erick Lind reports that while high school students may not be as worried about those numbers, one group in Madelia aims to keep students from joining those statistics.(Sound of laughter)These four students look like most you'd find in high school... but they have an extra set of skills.They're all members of Business Professionals of America.Madelia BPA advisor Kathy Guyer says, "It just reinforces all the things they need to learn when they're really out in the business world working."This quartet has gone above and beyond to get past the state competition, and on to Nationals.Samantha Bestick says, "You need to go the extra mile to take the test, study for the test, do well on the test. It's just an extra step that people have to take."They compete in accounting, website design, and desktop publishing... just three of around 60 different options for students to choose from.Jena Goodburn says, "You have to show them that your site works, and you can make this work too for other businesses."These students are still working on graduating from high school, but with current national unemployment rates at 8.5 percent, they know what they are learning through B.P.A. could make them more employable when they get into the job market.Michael Gasner says, "This will definitely give us an edge, more than people that didn't have the experience through high school, just going through college and learning it."Guyer says it's a great opportunity for a smaller school to compete against larger schools.These students success is breeding more success, and that could be a positive impact on the future workforce.Abree Royce says, "Every year there are more and more kids that are joining because of the success that we've had. I really think the kids that are in B.P.A. now, will help business grow."And that will be good news for everyone seeking work.In Madelia, Erick Lind, News 12.