DECA is a high school association of students preparing for careers in marketing, merchandising, management and entrepreneurship. Nationally, DECA has over 215,000 members in over 3,500 chapters. Minnesota DECA has over 2,000 members in over 50 chapters. DECA promotes leadership development, civic consciousness, social intelligence and vocational understanding. DECA chapter activities, classroom projects, and competitions integrate these skills into a "leadership kit" that members carry into their business and personal lives.
If you're interested in marketing, Minnesota DECA provides opportunities for you to enhance your understanding and skills through the competitive event program. These competitions emphasize academic and vocational excellence as the building blocks for successful careers. Top-ranked winners receive trophies, scholarship and corporate awards as recognition, plus opportunities to compete at the national level.
Minnesota DECA competitive events Include:
- Series Events: Students are required to accomplish a task or solve a problem by translating what they have learned in the classroom into effective, efficient and spontaneous action.
- Management Team Decision Making Events: Students work together to solve a problem or develop a plan to present to senior management (the judge).
- Written Events: Students develop and present a paper regarding either a marketing research topic or a business plan.
The Richfield High School DECA team meets regularly throughout the school year and participates in state and national competitions. For information on National DECA please visit their website.