This past weekend, 100 of Wakeland’s DECA members competed at the State Career Development Conference in Dallas. With outstanding results, the students represented our school’s determination and hard work ethic.
Students arrived in Dallas on February 19, with the competition taking place all throughout February 20. During this time, students competed in their events, taking tests and sharing their presentations. “I’m in an event called Project Management, so I created a business venture and presented it to the judge,” junior Ananya Siva said. “It was really fun to create a passion project throughout these past few months and present my hard work.”
In addition to competition, students had leisure time to participate in various activities throughout the conference. They were encouraged to eat out with friends, make new connections with schools across the state, and even take part in the DECA-hosted casino night. The conference hosted many opportunities for members to have fun and relax after a stressful day of competition.
On Saturday, the grand awards ceremony announced those who advanced to the International level of competition. Around 20 students were state finalists, with around 20 advancing to Internationals. Additionally, junior Tad Tolbert was elected Texas DECA Vice President. “I’m so excited for this opportunity,” Tad said. “I’ve created a campaign over the course of the year, and I’m proud to represent Wakeland at this level.”
The next round of competition will take place in Atlanta, Georgia, from April 25-28, giving students the chance to demonstrate their efforts on an international level. Overall, the State competition was a fantastic opportunity for students to connect, present, and win, sharing their skills with students from all across Texas.
