It comes on the announcements all the time: “All Cool DECA kids come to the meeting this afternoon.” But students wonder: What is DECA?
DECA adviser and CTE teacher Kim Hall has been involved with DECA for roughly 30 years, and as an adviser for 24 years. Hall said that DECA is “simply a title,” but is characterized as an association of marketing students in high school and college. The club involves many high school students who are looking to pursue careers in the marketing, advertising and business fields.
“I got involved in marketing my junior year of high school, and got involved with DECA, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do,” said Hall. “It gave me my first taste of success in school… my first taste of something that made sense to me and that I was good at.”
Sixteen DECA students traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, in April to compete at the national competition. At DECA competitions, students are able to participate in real-life business scenarios such as hotel and lodging management, advertising campaigns and business law and ethics.
Senior Delaney Henry, who advanced to nationals for the second year in a row, has enjoyed her experiences competing in DECA.
“Last year, I was in hospitality, so I was given a situation in which I was a hotel manager dealing with difficult customers,” said Henry.
This year, senior Megan Sulvester competed in an event where she created a wedding planning business and made a business plan. Sulvester’s project placed in March’s state competition, earning her a trip to her second nationals.
“My favorite moment was getting the feeling when [I won at states] and [got] to go up on stage. It felt wonderful because all the hard work that [I] did finally paid off,” said Sulvester.
Of the roughly 60 members of Northwood DECA, 25 students qualified and participated in the state competition that was held in Greensboro, with one fourth-place winner, three third-place winners and three teams of first-place winners. Sixteen went to nationals, the largest number of students that has ever advanced to nationals in Northwood history.
“I am extremely proud of our DECA kids and what they accomplished this year,” said principal Chris Blice. “I’ve never been at a school that has had that many kids qualify for nationals in anything. I think that was an incredible achievement in itself.”
DECA nationals this year were held thousands of miles away in Salt Lake City, and gave many Northwood students an opportunity that they hadn’t ever had before. Seniors Alex Plummer and Anna Brown experienced their first plane ride going to nationals.
“It was a great experience and I’m glad I went. I climbed a mountain and picked up a rock from the top of it, and I brought it home,” said Plummer. “But let’s just say that I probably won’t [climb] again.”
When not in competition, DECA members at the national conference were entertained by many groups such as the Jabberwockies from America’s Best Dance Crew; Chinese acrobats; and students had front-row seats at an Eli Young Band concert.
“We were front row and [the lead singer] touched my hand, I haven’t washed it!” Henry said jokingly.
Hall discussed the new experience for the students in Utah.
“The general sessions were held at the arena where the Utah Jazz play, so it was [huge]. We had to walk up this ramp before we walked down to our seats and as we walked up the ramp all of the lights were out and there were lasers flashing and kids screaming. To watch [my] student’s faces, it was like they were just amazed,” said Hall. “You can talk about 15,000 people, but it’s a different thing to see 15,000 people in one room.”
Hall also said that in addition to the experiences that come with DECA, it also helps expose students to a potential career path.
“High school should truly be about exploration of finding something that you want to do,” said Hall. “DECA has given students the ability to interact with people in the marketing industry… If I can help you decide what a career path might be for you, then I think that is really powerful.”
For Sulvester, DECA has done just that.
“I am attending the Poole College of Management at NC State and I plan to have a career in business,” said Sulvester. “DECA really helped me prepare for that and has really introduced me to a lot of things that helped me decide on my future career.”
– By Emily Brooks