You may not notice DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) results or their events making headlines, but this hands-on, student-led activity group within Chanhassen and Chaska high schools has a time-honored record of providing students with real-world skills and experiences.
Since its launch in 1946, DECA engages students in business-related skills. Its stated mission is to “prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.”
DECA is open to business students at Chanhassen and Chaska in the 10th grade and above. The group is student-led, and each chapter elects a leadership team that sets goals for the academic year.
Students select an area of interest from within 12 different functional areas of DECA such as: automotive marketing, finance, human resources, retail and sports management. Once a functional area is selected, students study and research the area with teachers, fellow chapter members and others to become versed in the topic.
District Competition
At the heart of each DECA chapter’s year is preparing for and engaging in competition at a district, state or national level event. At the district, students work on their own or with a partner to prepare a demonstration of their competency with their functional area. This may involve writing a proposal for a product or service while competing as an individual or team role-play. Each student also completes an examination in the area and is graded like most other school exams.
The written reports are reviewed and rated by external judges, volunteer parents, alumni and dedicated community members. The national DECA office provides standards/criteria for reviewing projects.
The role-play events are the core of a DECA member’s experience. Whether working alone or in a pair, a student enters a gymnasium with up to three dozen “judging stations.” A student is given a case study in their functional area. They will have 10 to 15 minutes to prepare a presentation to a “manager” (judge) with ideas and suggestions on the provided case.
This format challenges students to think on their feet in a short period of time, demonstrate confidence and communication skills, and develop problem-solving skills. The cases are developed by the DECA national office and are new each competition cycle. The top percentage of participants in a functional area move on to the state competition.
Experienced DECA members can also engage in a community project in which an individual, duo or team can propose a real or proposed product or service offering that would benefit the community.
Local DECA chapter Treasurer Carly Sayre shared her proposed concept of developing an app (branded as Pourc Pouch) that would allow an individual(s) who may have extra food to share the food with a food organization in the community who would come to their house and distribute that food as needed.
“My teammate and I thought this would be a great project to help individuals in the community to connect with each other and help those in need,” Sayre said. “We learned so much about how to present a concept, work a brand and the logistics of rolling something like this out.”
District 7 competition was recently held at Wayzata High School (where eight area schools had 930 students participating).
“You learn so much, it’s not just theory,” explained Chaska DECA President Lucy Wright. “You get feedback and can see the results of your efforts in real time. Speaking skills, talking with people you’ve just met, professionalism. Those are just some of the things, and it’s a lot of fun.”
While competitions are at the foundation of the DECA experience, Wright shared that the Chaska chapter also is involved with the Hawk Haul, a food drive held each Halloween. Chaska DECA also sponsors the powder puff football game each fall which raises money and food for local food banks.
District 112 Chapters
Jeff Rydland has been involved with DECA at Chaska for 28 years. He has been leading the chapter for the past 16 years. Prior to that he was an assistant to Cheryl Boe, who he gives credit to for having launched DECA at Chaska.
Rydland has been involved with DECA for so long he has seen many siblings come through the Chaska program. Rydland is assisted by Clover Ridge 3rd grade teacher Jill Simatic (an 11-year assistant, who was a student herself in the program a few years ago), and Ryan Smith (in his first year and a counselor at CHS).
“Students get real-time feedback on skills that they will be using going forward with their lives,” Ryland explains. “Any of the functional areas has the students presenting themselves, their ideas – shaking hands, justifying their decisions, talking with others. It’s a great deal of professionalism being practiced in real time with feedback.”
Chaska currently has 84 students in their program.
Dr. Tara Campbell has been with the Chanhassen chapter for three years, having recently joined the district. She is assisted by Alec Hurst.
“Seeing the students – who are initially scared to death – to talk, go out and do their role plays and get positive feedback is just amazing,” Campbell said. “They feel so good about their work and themselves.”
Every student who participates in DECA gets something out of the program, she said.
“Those that start as freshman and stay in for four years pick up so many real-life skills, it helps them in whatever they do after high school,” Campbell said. “It’s a great program to be involved with.”
Chanhassen has 166 students their program. Both programs will be sending multiple students to state this year.
Judges Needed
District and state competitions cannot function without judges. Most judges are parents with students in the program, but it can be anyone with the time and interest in helping students. The advisors provide the guidance and DECA generates the rubrics for scoring.
This year’s state event is March 2 through March 4 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Minneapolis. Judges are needed to review written projects, team presentations and individual role plays. Various shifts are available and vary by day. Sign up for a half day segment at their web site. Parking is provided.
