DECA has always been at the forefront of education and job management, providing preparations for high school student’s potential careers in various important fields, such as hospitality and marketing. However, DECA has also been known for hosting various competitive events to really challenge its students.
#1: The Origin of DECA.
DECA as an organization was founded back in 1946 in Memphis Tennessee, as a collective effort with the goal of encouraging high school students to explore the art of Marketing, and other jobs that related to that category. The founders, Chris Kimbell and Micheal Wayne, created the organization during the first Interstate Conference of Distributive Education Clubs on April 17th, marking the beginning of DECA’s rise to prominence.
“I would say mainly it prepares students for careers in things like Marketing, Finance, and even Hospitality. I think its biggest impact is that it influences students’ career paths, so if a student is unsure of their future, it can help them find a career path in business.” said associate principal Mrs. Riley.
According to connecticutdeca.org, the name DECA originally stood for “Distributive Educational Club of America”, but this was changed in 1991 due to the organization becoming international, and not just stationed in America. This choice was because DECA prepared students for careers in a global market, meaning it wouldn’t get as much traction if it was stuck within America’s borders, especially given the organization’s rising global presence.
#2: The Start of the Competitions.
Although competitive events had been part of DECA almost since its founding, they didn’t actually become prominent up until the early 1970’s, where they were given an almost full modernization. These events are categorized into 3 clusters, Role-Plays and Case Studies, Prepared Events, and Online Simulations, depending on what students are mainly focusing on at the time.
“The best part is being able to connect with other people, and honestly, its kinda fun to have your heart racing, and the anxiety is kinda fun before the competition. I think a lot of the time the environment is very awesome, and some people feel what you’re feeling during the events.” said 12th grade student Joel Hankey.
According to DECA.com, the competitions are held to drive members of the organization to excel and improve their performance, allowing them to do things better both in their potential careers, and within DECA itself. The events are held to let members experience what it would be like to be a business professional, preparing them for whatever their future career has in store for them.
#3: How the Competitions Work.
As mentioned before, the competitive events hosted by DECA are split into Role-Plays and Case Studies, Prepared Events, and Online Simulations, with each of them functioning in different ways compared to the other 2. The majority of them revolve around answering a 100 question exam, as well either showing off already prepared projects, or doing roleplays with the judges, depending on the event’s category.
“I think that the way the competitions work is very well structured, with how they divided the Role-Plays and Exams, and I really enjoy that the role-plays are on the spot, since I feel like it tests my abilities more.” said 11th grade student Soha Noorani.
According to texasdeca.org, competitors develop a well written business plan or pitch deck in advance, and then present it to the judges live, with whatever is turned in being based on the event’s topic. Students are also allowed to choose which kind of competitions they would like to attend, depending on what they are most interested in at the time, and what they want their potential future career to be.
DECA has been around for a long time, and its competitions have allowed numerous students internationally to find their dream careers. Whether it be through Role-Plays and Case Studies, Prepared Events, or Online Simulations, there’s always something that will help you plan your future.
So if you ever hear of an upcoming DECA competition, and you happen to be part of DECA, don’t be afraid to attend, you might get some really valuable knowledge out of it.
