The DECA chapter traveled to Atlanta to compete in the International Career Development Conference on Saturday, April 21.

Along with traveling on Saturday, the members attended opening ceremonies where they were given the chance to converse with the 19,000 other DECA members from all over the world who they were competing against.

They traded their state pins as well as hats given to them.

Eleven students turned their papers in on Sunday, April 22, and one participated in a program called Ignite. This program gave junior Shyann Schumacher the chance to better her leadership abilities for the coming DECA year.

On Monday, April 23, Schumacher once again participated in the program. The others got to experience the Coca-Cola factory before they gave their presentations at 2 p.m.

Junior Jacie Robinson was the only one to compete at 3 p.m.

Members then went to the Georgia Aquarium and then attended the Andy Grammar concert which was exclusive to DECA students.

On Tuesday, April 24, awards took place. In each category, there were eight flights containing 18 to 20 people. The top two of the flight were able to compete in the final round. The only group who made it was the Community Service Project (CSP) who then competed that same day.

“I was proud with how my group did,” Leiker said. “I was a little upset at first, but I realized that overall, with our project, we truly did win in our hearts.

Final awards took place Tuesday night, CSP did not make top ten, but place in the top 10 percent of the nation.

“We made it to the top 16, and we felt really confident in our presentation,” junior Brianna Forinash. “We had to present again, and we didn’t have the same connection that with our finalist judge as we did with our first judge. I’m pretty happy with it. I would have been glad to have gotten up on stage again for the top ten, but I was proud that we made it to top 16.”

Next year, the only two continuing with this project are Leiker and junior Isabelle Braun.

“I hope that we just continue to work as hard to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities,” Leiker said. “Hopefully we can make it on stage next year for top 10.”

19ibraun@usd489.com