Next month, 21 students representing the DECA chapter at the Allen County Career and Technical Center and Allen County Scottsville High School will join over 18,000 students, advisors, business persons, and DECA alumni for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Anaheim California. The AC-S students earned the opportunity to attend the international event based on their first, second, or third place results in various competitions this week at the Kentucky DECA conference in Louisville.
First place winners included Coby Bessinger in the DECA Member of the Year category, Dalton Birge in Principles of Finance, Aaron Borth in Financial Consulting, Alexa Coleman and Mason Towery in Community Service, and Kaleigh Shaw in Advertising Campaign.
Second place winners were Bryson Bonds, Allie Byrn, and Lexi Marr in Hospitality/Tourism Operations Research, Emma Harwood in Hotel and Lodging, and Makayla Vernon and Jaylee Woods in Franchise Business Plan.
Third place winners included Ally Atwood, Sydney Ausbrooks, and Hadley Celsor in Public Relations Project, Katelyn Bewley and Rachel Bomar in Fashion Merchandising Promotion, Harris Gregory in Hospitality/Tourism Professional Selling, Jacob Gross in Financial Consulting, Zaide-Jade Pinson in Business Services Operations Research, and Zena-Cole Pinson in Start-Up Business Plan.
In addition to the winners, Kaleigh Shaw was elected state DECA president with Adam McGuffey elected as the state vice-president of public relations.
The winners are eligible to attend the ICDC event April 25-30 in Anaheim. The DECA students will begin a series of fundraising activities in the coming weeks to help with expenses for the trip.