Students compete at State Career Development Conference

Isabelle Braun, Editor-in-Chief|March 5, 2019

Courtesy Photo

Twenty-three DECA members traveled to Manhattan to compete at the State Career Development Conference. Seven groups will compete at nationals in April.

DECA members traveled to compete at the State Career Development Conference (SCDC) from March 3-5.

At this competition, DECA members prepared presentations for judges, presented and then attended the awards ceremony where seven groups found out they would attend nationals.

Nationals is set to take place in Orlando, Fla. from April 26-30. Those attending are as follows:

First place Community Service Project: Seniors Kallie Leiker and Isabelle Braun

First place Public Relations Project: Juniors Allison Hillebrand and Paige PolifkaDenson

First place Sports and Entertainment Marketing Operations Research: Seniors Keaton Markley, Peyton Thorell and Connor Teget

Isabelle Braun
Seniors Connor Teget, Peyton Thorell and Keaton Markley took first in their event Sports Entertainment Operations Research. This will be Teget and Thorell’s second year at nationals and Markley’s first.

First place Business Growth Plan: Senior Abigail Dickinson

First place Franchise Business Plan: Juniors Peyton Niernberger and Kaydee Brin-Markley

Second place Hospitality and Tourism Operations Research: Seniors Ryan Hernandez and Jacie Robinson

Third place Principles of Marketing: Junior Carson Ackerman

Ackerman was the only one from Hays participating in this roleplay event, which allowed for him to travel to nationals when he received third. Concerning presentations, competitors are only allowed to go to nationals if they place in the top two.

To compete in his event, Ackerman had to take a one hour exam with 100 questions and play two roles in different scenarios.

“I felt extremely shocked that I placed high enough to go to nationals,” Ackerman said. “I thought I could perform well, but I was still surprised and ecstatic to have received the placing that I did.”

Other placements for competitors are as follows:

Third place International Business Plan: Juniors Emma Pfannenstiel and Joanna Carillo

Fourth place Entrepreneurship Promotion Plan: Juniors Cassidy Prough, Brooke Denning and Madelyn Waddell

Fifth place Creative Marketing Project: Juniors Lauren Kent and Landon Dinkel

Seventh place Innovation Plan: Junior Matt Goodale

Eighth place Integrated Marketing Campaign (Event): Senior Shyann Schumacher and Junior Carson Ackerman

10th place Integrated Marketing Campaign (Event): Senior Trevor Mai

19ibraun@usd489.com