DECA: a competitive business club

The most asked question to any DECA member or advisor: "What exactly is DECA?"

DECA is a competitive business club that focuses on four career clusters: management, marketing, finance and hospitality.  The main competition consists of one or two role-plays which are business case studies.  Students have an allotted amount of time to read the case study, prepare a strategy and then they sit with a judge and role-play a business meeting on that topic.  Students compete in role-plays at the regional competition hoping to advanced to the state and international competitions.  Also factoring into their scores are exams that test on economic and business concepts.

Another area of competition are business plans.  These are 5-30 page written reports that include research and strategy plans.  These written event could range in topics from starting a new business to developing a marketing campaign for a real business.  The written events are presented at the State competition in March in hopes of advancing to the International competition in May.

The Glenbrook North DECA club also helps develop leadership and community service within our members.  The club currently runs a Market Day food business program for the community and also fundraises to help with local charities.

Over the years, students and alumni remark that DECA is a valuable experience.  It gives students real life experiences interacting with business professionals, interviewing and networking.  DECA also provides leadership, business and entrepreneurial skills that have made our alumni quite successful.

For more information on DECA, check out the following web links:

Main site: http://www.deca.org/

A listing and examples of high school competitive event categories: http://www.deca.org/competitions/highschool/