Distributive Education Clubs of America, or DECA, is a club centered around business and marketing that aims to promote entrepreneurship and professionalism skills. However, DECA is not just for those interested in business but for any students looking to improve and build on their teamwork, communication, or problem-solving skills.
On Sunday, Feb. 23, Stoughton High School’s DECA team traveled down to the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, WI, where they competed in the DECA State Career Development Conference (SCDC). Addison Liddicoat, the SHS Chapter President, and Dylan Clark, the Vice President of Communications, showed key examples of teamwork and collaboration on Monday, Feb 24, the first official day of the conference. Liddicoat and Clark worked together on a project presentation for the fictional company YardStar, the main goal of which was an app connecting lawn care providers to people in need of lawn care.
The SHS DECA team believes Liddicoat and Clark demonstrated exceptional partnership and cooperation, which are some of the core values of DECA. “Addison and Dylan are truly a testament to what DECA can be,” said sophomore Ethan Mowry, an attendee and active SHS’ DECA team member.
In addition to the presentation delivered by Liddicoat and Clark, Mowry and Gabe Weinkes took separate tests, each adhering to a different area of business. Weinkes was tasked with a test in the Restaurant and Food Service category, which required him to find solutions to common issues in the food industry. Mowry was given a test on Principles of Marketing, one of the entry-level simulations.
Tuesday, Feb. 25, the second day of the competition, was dedicated to role-plays. The role-plays require students to come up with ideas and solutions on a whim. Competitors were judged on their ability to assess a situation appropriately, suggest probable solutions, and articulate their ideas clearly and concisely. The questions were related to ethical dilemmas within a company, how to respond to them, and how to respond to customer service complaints.
Prior to their arrival at the resort, Ann Ross, the adviser of the DECA club at Stoughton High School, had the team participate in practice sessions twice a week after school on Mondays and Wednesdays to prepare them for the conference. Ross gave the team access to online practice tests from previous years and conducted mock role-plays similar to the competition to help the team prepare.
“I bought an online prep program and gave them access to that,” Ross stated. “For the practice role-plays, I gave them scenarios based on the event category they signed up for.”
After two days of competition, the awards ceremony took place on Wednesday, Feb. 26, and the top competitors were recognized in each category. All SHS competitors medaled in at least one or more of their events. One of the most significant accomplishments of the event was Mowry’s qualifying for nationals.
“I was not expecting to qualify and was astonished when it happened. I think part of it is that marketing principles are an entry-level event, so it’s somewhat easier for a sophomore like me to advance, but I was still not expecting it.” Mowry said.
Mowry considers his involvement in DECA an immeasurable experience that has allowed him to grow personally and professionally. He holds DECA in high regard and is amazed by its impact on his growth.
“I’ve learned much during DECA, and we’ve grown as a group. There’s a lot of ambition, commitment, and team spirit in DECA, and seeing how each position works in harmony for the team is inspiring,” Mowry said. “Being able to experience [state] with the Stoughton DECA team was an unforgettable experience. Every day was filled with energy and new experiences, and going back to the resort room afterward with the rest of the team and having fun, talking, and relaxing was definitely one of the best parts,” he said.
According to Ross, the conference not only allowed the Stoughton DECA team to showcase their determination and talent but also strengthened their collaboration, creativity, and leadership skills.
“The state conference is competition and leadership development, so the students can partake in different workshops such as how to lead a team and ways to collaborate. It’s really all about stuff like that.” Ross said.
When asked about Weinkes and Mowry’s performance at the competition, Ross had some endearing words to share.
Team Stoughton’s achievements at state have definitely made this trip one to remember.
As DECA continues to expand in numbers and promote at SHS, the team’s success at this year’s conference will be remembered and will inspire the next wave of DECA members.
