Charles City DECA students ready to compete in national business contest

By Travis Fischer

Members of the Charles City High School’s DECA club are making preparations for their upcoming trip to Florida to present at the DECA International Career Development Conference.

After strong showings in the state competition last February, eight DECA club members have qualified to go to the national contest, hosted in Orlando from April 22 to 25.

“It’ll be kids from all over the world,” said Claire Girkin.

Girkin, along with Chris Tull, will be attending the national contest to take part in leadership programs, while six of their fellow members will compete with students from around the globe in a variety of business-related challenges.

Some of the contests will be solo endeavors, like Lydia Müller competing in Personal Finance and Literacy, or Josette Benning making a role-playing presentation for Business Services Marketing.

Other categories are team based, with students like Holden McInroy and Nolan Schmiedel pairing up to present their start-up business idea.

“We basically make up a business plan,” said McInroy. “It’s almost like a ‘Shark Tank’ kind of thing.”

McInroy and Schmiedel have developed a business plan for a lawn care and snow removal service, which they took to Des Moines in February for the state contest. After receiving feedback and making revisions to their plan, they are eager to present it again on the national stage.

“We’re going to do a lot more prep,” said Schmiedel.

Meanwhile, Anders Haglund and Kayona Flowers will have to think on their feet as they compete in the Business Law and Ethics category. Instead of having a set presentation, the students will be given a hypothetical ethical conundrum to consider.

“We never know exactly what they’re going to be,” said Haglund.

With 30 minutes to research and prepare, Haglund and Flowers will have to find precedents and form a compelling case for the judges to determine a practical and ethical solution to a problem. The category also features a 100-question test they must complete to demonstrate their knowledge of business management and administration.

From role playing scenarios to essays, the various competitive categories include several different ways to rate students on their business sense. The students picked their chosen categories based on what areas of business operations interest them, gaining skills in areas like accounting, marketing and contract reading.

“You really choose based on what you think you’re going to do for the rest of your life,” said Haglund.

The Charles City DECA program has seen considerable growth as it goes into its second year. In February, the program was recognized at the state contest with the Membership Award after increasing its numbers from six to 15 students.

While competitive business presentations isn’t typically the most popular of school activities, DECA instructor Tammy Wheeler has been working hard to promote and recruit students into the program.

“She brought it up to us at the beginning of the year and we thought it would be fun,” said Schmiedel.

Every student competing in Orlando this year is a new recruit to the program. For the DECA club members going, the trip represents the culmination of the work they’ve put in this year, practicing for the competitive presentations since last December.

Win or lose, the DECA students say they have enjoyed learning new skills and meeting new people in this unique club about exposing them to the professional world.

“I’ve done some things I didn’t think I’d be doing,” said Flowers.

“I feel like we’re more aware of things that can happen and how to react to them,” said Benning.

The trip won’t be all business though. Along with attending the conference, the students are looking forward to taking some time to visit some of Orlando’s amusements. Trips to SeaWorld and Universal Studios are on the itinerary as they spend the week in the Sunshine State.

Co-advisors Wheeler and Abby Palsic said they are proud of the growth they’ve seen in the club this year and are still seeking out sponsors to help fund the kids’ trip.

“It’s a great group,” said Wheeler. “They’re just fun to be around.”