With a 38% increase in members this year and 279 qualifying Howell students, DECA State occurred March 23-25. Students competed at the Crown Center in Kansas City.
“Last year we had 202 members. This year we had a lot more participation from the sophomores in our Intro to Business classes,” business teacher and DECA sponsor Jennie Guttmann said.
To prepare for State and Internationals, students in Marketing classes who are also in DECA spent three weeks of in-class time quizzing each other and taking practice tests.
“We have a course in Canvas that has a lot of study materials for the students. We have given some class time for students to prepare, as well as having study sessions during Howell time,” Guttmann said.
A total of 22 students qualified for Internationals in Orlando. These included seniors Sadie French (Professional Selling), Ethan Haarbrink (Business Finance), Ava Delfosse and Evie Ryan (Buying and Merchandising Research), Jordyn Campbell and Lily Thoma (Financial Literacy Project), Perry Oetjen (Sports and Entertainment), Molly Archibald (Hospitality Services), Paige Dooley (Marketing Communications), Cole Brewer and Jason Rhomberg (Business Operations Research), Lily Mantia and Keely Streck (Travel and Tourism), Moyra Nichols (Hospitality Services), Addison Nieman (Apparel and Accessories), Sophia Seaman (Retail Merchandising), Katie Thwing (Business Service Marketing), Garrett Bossler and Blake Spiller (Marketing Management) and Tommy Daugherty and Taylor Ralston (Sports and Entertainment), as well as juniors Jack Fann (Sports and Entertainment), Drew Buckman (Apparel and Accessories), Colin Campbell (Principles of Finance), Vinay Konduru (Food Marketing) and Ellie Pfieffer (Entrepreneurship Marketing).
“Competing at State was very exciting and allowed me to challenge myself in new ways,” Seaman said. “At Internationals, I’m looking forward to meeting people with similar interests from all across the world and going to Disney.”
A lot goes into preparing for this competition, but the combination of both returning members and class officers helps the process run smoothly.
“We have a great officer team who has met consistently to help spread their passion,” Guttmann said. “Our several returning students that went with us last year to ICDC have been great leaders and mentors for the new members.”
Jordyn Campbell is the senior president for DECA. As president, she helps bring the chapter together and promote it through social media and competition. Through her learned experience, she understands the benefits of participating in DECA.
“At Internationals, I’m looking forward to spending this last time with my classmates and teachers,” Campbell said. “I love being president because I like being able to advocate for such an amazing organization that has helped me grow as both a person and as a leader. This community is very special and I’m so lucky to have been apart of it.”
Internationals are being held April 25-30. The location switches every year, and this year it will be taking place in Orlando, Florida. This is Brewer’s second year qualifying.
“My favorite memory from Internationals last year was going to Disney with my friends,” Brewer said. “I think having them in Orlando this year will definitely have a different feel because I think there’s a lot more to do there.”
Every year, more than 23,000 high school students, teachers, advisors, business professionals and alumni gather for several days at Internationals.
“It’s almost intimidating to compete against all of those students, but I think it will be a better learning experience either way,” Delfosse said. “I think everyone who’s interested in DECA should join.”
