FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS: Thirty-nine students from Jenks High School attended the DECA Career Development Conference in Tulsa at the end of February. DECA is a national organization that provides opportunities for students to develop skills and obtain experience in marketing, business and entrepreneurship.
Courtesy Jenks Public Schools Foundation
Thirty-nine students from Jenks High School attended the 65th Annual DECA Career Development Conference held in Tulsa Feb. 26-27 at the Southern Hills Tulsa Marriott. More than 1,200 members from 56 chapters participated in the conference sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.
DECA is a national organization that provides opportunities for students to develop skills and obtain experience in marketing, business and entrepreneurship. In Oklahoma, DECA is an integral part of Marketing Education in the CareerTech system with more than 3,000 junior and senior high school members.
The two-day conference hosted 35 competitive events, the First DECA Entrepreneurship Academy, state officer elections and an awards ceremony. State officers and competition winners will represent Oklahoma at the DECA International Career Development Conference in Atlanta, Ga., in April.
“Through active participation in DECA, members apply presentation skills, problem-solving skills and human relation skills to help prepare them for careers in marketing, management and entrepreneurship,” says Ida Fryhover, DECA state adviser. “This conference provides the opportunity for marketing education students to present their skills to local business volunteers in a competitive format.”
The following students placed first in their respective events and qualified to attend the international conference: Emily Bisogno and Sara Shidell, Chapter Awards Program, Gold Level Award; Corbin Gaines and Nadia Kasim, first place, Retail Marketing Research Event; Mishi Mondragon, Entrepreneurship Participating Event-Independent Business; Dejuan Goodeau, Entrepreneurship Participating Event-Franchising Business; Jennifer Morgenthaler, Entrepreneurship Written Event; Shane Khalaf, Sports and Entertainment Event; and Tiara Powell, Erica Sadler, and Colette Young, Fashion Merchandising Promotion Plan. Each qualifying student member received a scholarship award from OCU Meinders School of Business of $6,000 per student winner.
Second place winners and international conference qualifiers include: Lindsey Humphrey, Entrepreneurship Participating Event-Independent Business; Alec Keddrell, International Business Plan; Payge Cole and Jilliann Grable, Learn and Earn Project; Rachel Hornay, Quick Service Restaurant Management Event; Daniel Hall and Barry Wise, Sports and Entertainment Marketing Management Team Event; and Scott Stutsman, Technical Sales Event.
OCU Meinders School of Business awarded each second place winner a $4,000 scholarship award.
Other state winners include: Evan Murta, fourth place, Advertising Campaign Event; Nick Blackwell and Thomas Brown, fourth place, Community Service Project; Kaitlin Loyd, fourth place, Entrepreneurship Participating Event-Independent Business; Alexis Bevins, Lydia Dick, and Kessanni Skelton, fourth place, Fashion Merchandising Promotion Plan; Troy Robinson, fourth place, Retail Merchandising Event; Brian Crawford, fifth place, Restaurant and Food Service Management; Kaitlin Himes and Eric Lyles, fifth place, Sports and Entertainment Marketing Management Event; Chelsea Williams, sixth place, Entrepreneurship Participating Event-Independent Business; and Rachel Ogilivie, Alyssa Pepin, and Cassie Tyler, sixth place, Public Relations Project.
Other students attending the conference included: Danielle Fuhrman, Heather Hanley, and Audrey Smith.
New to the conference agenda was the Entrepreneurship Academy, a development program created by Oklahoma DECA to recognize the Second National Entrepreneurship Week.
In the academy, over 80 DECA members learned skills and helpful tips about being an entrepreneur from nationally known speaker, Josh Sundquist. Local entrepreneur Roger Thompson of Thompson Photos also spoke to members about real-world marketing situations and experiences. Hannah Harrington and Fallon Patterson attended the event from the Jenks High School DECA Chapter.
“DECA connects the classroom to the boardroom by offering students the opportunity to apply knowledge,” says Fryhover, “and skills developed throughout the year to pursue leadership positions, partner and network with their business community, and provide volunteer services to local civic communities. Our members are preparing to become leaders in marketing, management, and entrepreneurship.”
DECA is one of seven CareerTech student organizations affiliated with CareerTech occupational divisions. The other six include FFA and Agricultural Education, BPA and Business and Information Technology Education, FCCLA and Family and Consumer Sciences Education, HOSA and Health Careers Education, TSA and Technology Education, SkillsUSA and Trade and Industrial Education.
For more information about DECA, contact Ida Fryhover via e-mail at ifryh@okcareertech.org or call (405) 743-5473.
For more information about CareerTech Student Organizations, visit www.okcareertech.org/main/ students.htm.
