Chaska High School DECA

What is DECA? 

DECA (formerly Distributive Education Clubs of America) is an international association of marketing students.  Our mission is to enhance the co-curricular education of students with interests in marketing, management and entrepreneurship.  DECA helps students develop skills and competence for marketing careers, build self-esteem, experience leadership and practice community service.

For more detailed DECA information, check out the National DECA website at www.deca.org, the Minnesota DECA website at www.mndeca.org or the Chaska DECA website at www.district112.org/CHS/Activities/DECA. 

 What does DECA offer? 

• An opportunity to serve in a leadership position.  Students may serve as Chapter officers, District officers, State officers, and/or National officers.
• An opportunity for students to apply what they have learned in the Marketing classroom and at work to real-world situations through business competition.
• An opportunity to look and act professional.  Students must wear business attire during competition.
• An opportunity for students to perform service for others.  We do a variety of service projects throughout the year, e.g. Mr. CHS for Miracles of Mitch.

An opportunity to letter. Students who participate at the majority of events and are outstanding competitors often letter. 

How does DECA competition work?

District:  Students compete against other students from other high schools in various sales and marketing events.  Events include:  Public speaking, interviewing, sales demonstrations, written research papers, and role-playing situations with a 100-question marketing test.  Each student will compete in two events at the District competition in late January.  Approximately 425 students compete from Chaska, Eden Prairie, Orono, Wayzata, Hopkins, and St. Louis Park school districts.

State:  If a student places in the top ten in BOTH of his/her events at the District level, then he/she is eligible to compete and stay overnight at the State competition in March.  If a student places in the top ten in ONE of his/her events at the District level, then he/she is eligible to move on to the State competition, but is not allowed to stay overnight at State.  This minimizes the amount of time missed from school and the payment required for the competition.  This rule is especially important for students that qualify for their written event only.  Unfortunately, due to scheduling constraints, there is no guarantee that written event qualifiers will receive an opportunity to present.  All papers are judged, but only the top 12 papers from each category present their paper at State to the judges.

International:  If a student places in the top three in his/her national event (role plays or written papers) at the State level, then he/she is eligible to move on to the international competition.

When is DECA?   

Our chapter meets during 1st block options throughout the year.  Major DECA events for 2007-08 include:

• Powder Puff Football on September 19, 2007

• Chaska Turkey Trot on November 17, 2007

• Sadie Hawkin’s Dance on November 29, 2007

• Middle School Fun Night (Scott Berg Fundraiser) on November 30, 2007

• Mr. CHS on December 12, 2007

• Four Paws and Mr. Claus Pet Show on December 16, 2007

• Scott Berg Benefit Banquet on January 20, 2008

• District Competition in Minnetonka on January 27-28, 2008

• State Competition in Minneapolis on March 9-11, 2008

• International Competition in Atlanta, GA on April 25-April 30, 2008

• Celebration Banquet at Oak Ridge Conference Center in Chaska on May 12, 2008

How much is DECA?

*International Competition scholarships will be allocated to students based on the number of hours he/she has served at various non-competitive DECA events throughout the academic year.  A student list is compiled after every event to accurately track the hours earned.