The Woodlands College Park takes first place win at DECA

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The Woodlands College Park just returned from the 2013 DECA International Career Development Conference and Competition in Anaheim, CA with a first place win in the Entrepreneurship Written event. The winning team consisted of Hudson Attar (junior), Kristoffer Nilsen (senior), and Kenny Young (junior).

Making it to the International level of competition is something many people only dream of, and getting on stage is only for the very top performers. To receive any award at the International level is nearly impossible, and to know you were the very best is an experience that few will ever experience.

Most people don't understand what DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) really is all about. DECA is an international association of high school and college students and teachers of marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality, and marketing sales and service. The organization prepares leaders and entrepreneurs for careers and education in marketing, finance, hospitality, management, and other business areas.

The students wear business attire, attend business meetings, meet with executives, and pitch their ideas to industry leaders while attending high school. The competitive process involves students in both a written component such as an exam or report, and an interactive component with an industry professional serving as a judge.

The DECA Students qualified for Internationals by beating out the competition at State, Feb 28-March 2nd (2013), in Corpus Christi, Texas. The students competed in 9 different categories, and 48 different events. DECA’s industry-validated competitive events are aligned with the National Curriculum Standards in the career areas previously mentioned.

DECA’s competitive events directly contribute to every student being college and career ready when they graduate from high school. Specifically, the 1st Place ENW group produced a 30-page business plan. They wrote the paper and presented it twice, to two different panels of judges.

“I truly have the best job in the world,” said Julie Lowe, College Park teacher and the DECA sponsor. “I get to work with future world leaders everyday!” A total of 15 College Park students entered, competing in 6 different events:

Hudson Attar, Kristoffer Nilsen, Kenny Young in Entrepreneurship Written - 1st Place

Jade Bilberry, Julia Cruz, Riani Manley in School Based Enterprise - Gold Certified School Store (2 in Texas)

Robert Clark, Jimena Gamboa, Aanchal Mittra in International Business Plan

Jahnavi Muppaneni, Kasturi Nari in Marketing Communications

Anastasia Cunningham, Chelsea Oladovich in Community Service

Rebecca Romero, Lindsey Smith in THRIVE

“My students continually amaze me,” said Lowe. “The work they produce is industry level work. I take each of their wins and losses personally.”

To better understand the magnitude of the accomplishment, over 15,000 students made it to the finals and competed in the DECA International Career Development Conference and Competition. For more information about this challenging program view DECA.