SDR’s DECA students deliver at districts

DECA (formerly Distributive Education Clubs of America) districts was held in Wisconsin Rapids on Monday, Jan. 19. According to a School District of Rhinelander press release, 20 Rhinelander students competed against about 600 other students in the North-Central region of Wisconsin in numerous business-related fields.

Of the 20 students that competed at regionals, eight individuals and three teams of two were awarded with a medal or plaque. Two students placed third in their events: Dom Hakala (Apparel & Accessories Marketing) and Grant Gremban (Sports & Entertainment Marketing).  

Rhinelander also had eight Overall Series Finalists (OSF), meaning they placed between fourth and 10th in their events; Kamden Kostrova (Business Services), Soren Dumar (Economics Test), Katie Tran (Economics Test), the team of Addy Strobel & Katie Tran (Hospitality Team Marketing), the team of Amelia MacIntyre & Lexi Terzinski (Hospitality Team Marketing), and Hank Kowieski (Sports & Entertainment Marketing). These students automatically qualified for the state competition. 

Also, advancing to the state competition will be the team of Josh Haselton & Sam Caselton (Sports & Entertainment Marketing Team), Soren Dumar (Personal Financial Literacy), Emmaline Kramsvogel (Hotel & Lodging Marketing), and Alexa Segovia (Business Services).

DECA competitions fall into one of four career clusters: marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Scores were based off a career cluster test and two role plays. In addition, all competitors take 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). 

Rhinelander High School has been involved in DECA for 12 years. They competed in District 2, which includes high schools from Lakeland to Adams-Friendship. Thirteen Rhinelander students will be going to the State Competition in Lake Geneva Feb. 22-25, with a lot of studying in between. 

To assist in sending these students to competition or for more information about the district’s DECA chapter, contact adviser Mischell Fryar at 715-365-9500.