DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) is a worldwide nonprofit organization that aims to prepare high school and college students for careers in marketing, finance, business, management, and entrepreneurship. Organized globally as either a school club or extracurricular, there are currently 3,917 high school and 180 collegiate chapters in all 50 states and 9 other countries. DECA gives students the opportunity to develop financial skills and prepare for careers through competitions, conferences, leadership opportunities, networking, and real-world business scenarios.
DECA hosts many educational conferences in the U.S. every year, including leadership conferences, career pathway conferences, and career development conferences. For both the high school and collegiate levels, DECA has corporate challenges for members to demonstrate the skills learned in their school club and apply them to the real world.
In DECA, you can create your own business or a fake business idea for a previously established company. Winners of the challenges can even receive money from real investors to support their business, app, website, or whatever they may create.
Back in 2015, DECA was an established club at M-A, but has yet to start back up again.
In the past few months, sophomores Josie Weiss, Auden Jones, and Penelope Chapman* have been working hard in hopes of reinstating the club at M-A.
The plan is looking to start either towards the end of this school year or the coming fall. “It all depends on how long it takes to make us officially a DECA chapter and hopefully get a chapter advisor. Because M-A previously had a DECA club, we need to get in touch with the DECA corporation regionally,” Weiss said.
“I wanted to start it up again because some of my friends from other schools are a part of DECA and speak very highly of the program,” she added.
Jones said, “DECA is a very important program because it actually prepares you for the real world after high school and college.”
In their first year, the club plans to introduce members to the fundamentals and basic principles of business and its strategy. Whether it’s marketing, finance, hospitality, or entrepreneurship, the club will cover it all through presentations, activities, and even guest speakers.
Weiss said, “After we educate everyone on all things business, we will start gathering ideas for small businesses and creating mock products. We will first have mini challenges within our club at M-A, like a fake Shark Tank, and eventually prepare for the bigger competitions.”
When asked what she hopes for the future of the club, Jones said, “In the years to come I hope to give club members the opportunity to attend the official DECA conferences and even bring in DECA corporate partners as guest speakers. There is a lot to learn from the DECA community.”
Jones concluded, “We are so excited to bring back this club and can’t wait to see it succeed!”
*Penelope Chapman is a journalist at M-A Chronicle
