Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) is a chapter based organization that works at the high school and college level to help provide students with the skills necessary to work in a selection of industries, including marketing, business management and administration, finance, hospitality, and tourism.

   In these sections, 33 different awards, 22 of which qualified for state. After the state competition that occurred this last weekend, DECA is sending 8 members to Anaheim in California for the International Career Development Conference, the culminating event of each year, for their international competitions.

   The awards were rather evenly distributed among the sections of DECA, overall being well rounded.

They have two main focuses for high school chapters. DECA wants to prepare leaders to go out of high school and into the workforce, or for people to prepare to go into their careers. Their method to achieve their goal is by having students research and study different fields in the aforementioned areas. The competitions are structed by having students propose solutions to a judge which is taking on the role of a CEO of a company for the field that the students researched. 

  Cara Posegate is the DECA sponsor, helping the students to run the club. “Some have been working inside of the marketing class, some in chief time, and some after school.“ Posegate said.

   The leadership delegate competition, if won at the district level, immediately goes to the international level to face DECA chapters internationally in California. The level of recognition can catch the attention of many people worldwide who may be willing to provide a job or a scholarship to college for the student to further refine their skillset.

   Among the students who placed in the district competition, there were five first place winners, seven second-place winners, and three third place winners. Among the students who are the alternate options for state, there were two 3rd place winners, three fourth placements, and two fifth placements.

  Now that state competitions have finished, 8 students are going to be going to the international competition in Anaheim, California. “This is the first time ever we’ve had a handful of international placements;” Posegate said.

   Overall, DECA has won many awards this year and is gearing up to compete at the international competition with some of the largest student numbers we’ve had.