More than 450 students expected for Jan. 11 regional competition
By Abby Goers, UW-Stout
University of Wisconsin-Stout will host the 53rd annual DECA District I Career Development Conference on Saturday, Jan. 11.
The event kicks off with an opening session at 8:45 a.m. in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall, followed by competition from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with an awards ceremony at 2:30 p.m. An orientation for judges begins at 8:30 a.m.
The event, organized and run by UW-Stout’s Marketing and Business Education Association, is an applied learning experience for high school marketing students.
“DECA is a great opportunity for students because it prepares competitors for success in future careers, education and personal growth,” said AnuTye Her, a marketing and business education junior from Eau Claire.
More than 450 students are anticipated to participate in 28 events from 20 area high schools:
Altoona, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire Memorial, Eau Claire North, Elmwood, Glenwood City, Holmen, Hudson, La Crosse Central, La Crosse Logan, Alma Center Lincoln, Melrose-Mindoro, Menomonie, Northwestern, Plum City, Sparta, Stanley-Boyd, Superior, Tomah and West Salem.
They will compete in 15 individual and eight team events. Students’ skills are tested in business services, marketing management, hospitality and tourism, marketing strategy, retail sales and services, sports and entertainment marketing, financial services and entrepreneurship.
Winners and runners-up in each category advance to the State Career Development Conference competition Monday, Feb. 24, to Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa in Lake Geneva.
“This is also a great opportunity for many UW-Stout marketing and business education students because it gives them the background knowledge of DECA related to how the event is planned, and what they can expect as future DECA advisers,” said Her, who is serving as the DECA District 1 coordinator.
“I’ve learned many things while being the DECA Districts coordinator. Connecting with advisers from across the state and networking with different departments here at the university, I’m so grateful to be in this position where I can say that I’ve helped plan a DECA event with amazing people,” he added.
Approximately 70 regional business and marketing professionals are needed as volunteer competition judges.
Judges have the opportunity to connect with and guide marketing and business career-focused high school students while networking with fellow professionals. Judges are provided a light breakfast, refreshments and lunch.
DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. It has more than 250,000 members in more than 3,900 high school chapters and 203 collegiate chapters.
UW-Stout’s marketing and business education degree, available both on-campus and online, is part of UW-Stout’s School of Education, which offers nine undergraduate and five graduate degrees, as well as nine certificates and certifications.
For more information about the competition, contact Debbie Stanislawski, MBE program director, at stanislawskid@uwstout.edu , 715-232-3195, or Melissa Andrle, judges coordinator, at mandrle@plumcity.k12.wi.us.
UW-Stout, a member of the Universities of Wisconsin, is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes. Learn more via the FOCUS2030 strategic plan.
