DECA students have been preparing for the state competition, the Career Development Conference (CDC), for over a month. CDC allows students to showcase their hospitality, finance, management and entrepreneurship skills. If students win at states on March 5-8, they will go on to compete in the International Career Development Conference (ICDC).
Students began preparing for states immediately after winning Districts on Fri., Jan. 9. Practices were held after school and students were required to attend one of the practices and present two of their presentations. These practices included a mock competition in the media center that was judged by members of the community on Thurs., Feb. 19 and Fri., Feb. 20. Past DECA students also attended practices to mentor current ones.
“I think that it prepares them for the real world, whether they’re doing a role play and having to think on their feet or having that situation gives them the confidence when they are dealing with business people,” DECA instructor Lisa Webster said.
To go to states, students had to do one of the following: take a 100 question exam on which they were presented with entrepreneurship or hospitality-related scenarios, write a 20 page research paper accompanied by boards that they presented or create a pitch deck and give a presentation to try to sell an idea. From each category, the top 13 people from each district proceeded to states. This year, 170 students qualified for states.
Freshmen, sophomores and juniors were required to compete at districts; however, it was optional for seniors. At States, students in every grade have the opportunity to compete, but freshmen can opt to take a test called principals, which is slightly easier than the typical tests and ensures they are not competing against seniors.
“They [students] really get a chance to apply their knowledge,” DECA instructor Mitchell Albert said. “As teachers, we’re always trying to have you learn your higher level skills and learning how to be able to define a vocab word doesn’t really make you very good at it, but if you know what to do with that information apply it to a real world situation, you’re going to be really well prepared for something in your career. So in addition to the specific information like hospitality or entrepreneurship, they’re creating skills that are transferable to any career you can think of.”
While at states, students are excused from school and have a travel day, allowing them to get their lanyards and otherwise settle in. That same night, they attend an opening ceremony for all competitors. The majority of the competitions are held Fri., March 6 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The next day, the winners are determined. On Sun., they travel back.
“I’m competing in a project management career development, which is a chapter project that we run externally, but also involved with MSC, DECA chapter,” junior Carissa Marvel said. “Ours is called Career Compass and we’re helping special needs students gain career skills. We’re partnering with Friendship Journey, which is a South Florida based nonprofit organization, and giving career readiness workshops to people with disabilities of all different types.”
States are held at Disney Springs, Orlando at the Hilton every year, but the international competition is held at a different U.S. location every year. This year, ICDC is being held in Atlanta on Fri., April 24. At ICDC, certain DECA divisions are sponsored, meaning winners may be awarded scholarships, as well as medals and trophies.
Those competing at states have been working hard to secure not just a win in Orlando, but a ticket to ICDC in April.
