Youth Connection: DECA - Not Just a Business Club

Since its establishment in 1946, DECA has touched the lives of ten million students and is now an organization synonymous with success in the business field. Although DECA’s official mission is to prepare “emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe,” this organization is also builds a sense of unity and teamwork between students in competition.

DECA is organized into two unique student divisions: the High School Division, which includes 185,000 members in 5,000 schools; and the Collegiate Division, which includes over 15,000 members in 200 colleges and universities. The High School Division tends to be divided up into local chapters, led by a teacher or advisor, that can be as range from ten to a hundred members.

DECA’s members work towards placing well in competitions, as well as building connections and friendships throughout the experience. During the competition, students compete in various different aspects of business, from accounting to advertisement campaign. Judges score either their written business plans or role plays - in which a students present ideas within a given scenario - as well as their written multiple choice test. The winners with the best overall score from each division will then progress from their area competition to state, and finally to Internationals.

This year DECA’s International competition will take place April 30th to May 3rd in Orlando, Florida. Around sixteen thousand students, advisors, and professionals are expected to gather for this event. 

Check back later for results on the teams from Bellevue!