DECA students deliver at Districts

Nineteen Rhinelander students completed against approximately 500 students from across the north-central region at DECA Districts Jan. 5 in Wisconsin Rapids and have qualified for the state competition in February, school officials announced in a press release.

DECA competitions fall into one of four business-related career clusters: marketing, finance, hospitality, and management, the release states. Within those clusters, there are more specific events that deal with a specific career field in that cluster. For example, if you were to choose accounting as your event, that would fall under the finance cluster. Competitors studied throughout the month of December and went to study sessions to prepare for competition. Their scores come from: a career cluster test and two role plays. In addition, all competitors took an economics test.

 The economics test was taken before students went to Wisconsin Rapids and included a variety of 100 questions to count for a quarter of the score. Once at Rapids, students first took a career cluster test that related to the general event they were competing in (marketing, finance, hospitality, or management). For the other part of their score, students were given two “real-life” situations/role plays which they had to try to work out in front of a judge (who is often a complaining customer, a business partner, or an employee). 

Of the 19 students that competed at regionals, seven individuals and two teams of two were awarded with a medal or plaque. Brody Kowieski placed first in his event (Personal Financial Literacy). Eva Hetland (Restaurant and Food Service Management) and the team of Luna Grage and Evi Sawyer (Marketing Management Team Event) placed second. Another two students placed third in their events: Payton McCue (Accounting) and Kate Ripple (Business Services as well as the economics test). Rhinelander also had one Overall Series Finalists (OSF), meaning they placed between 4th and 10th in their events; Greyson Gremban (Personal Financial Literacy). These students automatically qualified for the state competition. 

Also, advancing to the state competition will be: Alex Kniewel (Automotive Marketing), Lucas Haselton (Food Marketing), Matthew Carpenter (Principles of Hospitality), Alyssa Smits (Restaurant and Food Service Marketing), Wendy Fronk (Retail Marketing), Aiden Ostermann (Sports & Entertainment Marketing), Cassie Burke & Claire Caselton (Hospitality Marketing Team Event), Tori Riopel & Tyler Chariton (Sports & Entertainment Marketing Team), and Lylah Schroeder & Kali Skubal (Travel & Tourism Marketing Team).

 Rhinelander High School has been involved in DECA for 10 years. They competed in District II, which includes high schools from Lakeland to Adams-Friendship. Nineteen Rhinelander students will be going to the state competition in Lake Geneva Feb. 25 - 28.

 If you would like to assist in sending these students to competition or have any questions, please contact adviser Mischell Fryar at 715-365-9500.