Collegiate DECA students at SCTCC attended and participated in the Minnesota Collegiate DECA Innovation Summit at the Mall of America in October.
The members networked and learned from several industry experts in the fields of finance, sales, hospitality, marketing, human resources, and entrepreneurship. They also participated in the Innovation Challenge Case Study and came home with a first-place earned by Kaitlin Tenney, second-place earned by Grace Green, third-place by Dannilee Olson, and a top five place awarded to Montanna Jensen. Students worked in teams with students from across the state, applying their problem solving and business skills.
The Collegiate DECA Officers are Dannilee Olson, President; Montanna Jensen, Vice President; Amy Dvorak-Palmer, Student Senate Representative; and Tatianna Washington, Public Relations.
The team had the following to say about the day's experience: "We grew in our communication skills, networking capabilities, problem solving, applying feedback from professionals, became a little more comfortable being uncomfortable, and made some new friends."
DECA has more than 200,000 members and prepares high school and college students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. Contact Advisor Becky Shand for more information on joining DECA.
Photo: Back Row - Amy Dvorak-Palmer, Brianna Lucas, Bailey Stalmer, Yasir Adbi, Annalisa Geiser, Mark Buchanan (Advisor), Montanna Jensen; Front Row – I-Jung Lee, Dannilee Olson, Tatianna Washington, Grace Green, Kaitlin Tenney.