Back row (l-r): Rob Johnston, Lauryn Wolfgram, Julia Kohls, Dallas Jorgensen, Josh Erfle, Creighton Pfau, Nick Preston, Brendon Salander, Dustin Olson.
Front row (l-r): Abby Kohls, Jamison Zaun, Taylor Stegman, McKinley Kartes, Brooke Roeges, Travyen Brownlee, Cole Dukart.
March 31, 2021
Fourteen Mayville State University students participated in the North Dakota Collegiate DECA Career Development Conference in Fargo, N.D. March 22 and 23, 2021. The annual state conference provided an opportunity for students to compete against 100 of their peers representing nine other North Dakota colleges in business-related events. Mayville State University’s Collegiate DECA chapter made a strong impact at this year’s conference, qualifying 12 of 14 students, for the virtual international competition in April.
“Our students have been through a lot in the past year related to the COVID-19 restrictions,” said Mayville State Collegiate DECA advisor Rob Johnston. “Last year’s International Conference was canceled and this year’s fall leadership conference was held virtually via Zoom. It was nice to get back to an in-person conference this spring where students could present to a person instead of a computer screen. The students have really worked hard in an effort to get back to ‘normal,’ and that hard work paid off at state.”
Johnston, who is a professor of business at Mayville State, was named the North Dakota Collegiate DECA Advisor of the Year at the state conference.
MSU brought home two awards in addition to those received in competitive events. The North Dakota Collegiate DECA Outstanding Service Award went to Abigayle Kohls and to Taylor Stegman. This Chapter Leadership Award is designed to recognize Collegiate DECA student members for their leadership in their community, on their campus, and with their chapter.
The conference was capped off with the announcement that Taylor Stegman and Jamison Zaun were elected to state officer positions. Taylor will serve as president of North Dakota Collegiate DECA and Jamison Zaun will serve as vice President for North Dakota Collegiate DECA for the 2021-2022 school year.
Mayville State award winners in competitive events are as follows:
Marketing Management: 3rd Place - Brendon Salander, Argusville, N.D.
Managerial Accounting: 1st Place - Cole Dukart , Kildeer, N.D.
Financial Accounting: 1st Place - Lauryn Wolfgram, Thompson, N.D.; 2nd Place - Travyen Brownlee, Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Retail Management: 1st Place - Taylor Stegman, Drayton, N.D.
Sales Management Meeting: 1st Place - Creighton Pfau, West Fargo, N.D.
Travel & Tourism: 3rd Place - Brooke Roeges, Baldur, Manitoba Canada
Business Research: 1st Place - Abigayle Kohls, Mayville, N.D.; Julia Kohls, Mayville, N.D.; Jamison Zaun, Wahpeton, N.D.
Business Ethics: 2nd Place - Julia Kohls, Mayville, N.D.; Lauryn Wolfgram, Thompson, N.D.
Event Planning: 1st Place - Brooke Roeges, Baldur, Manitoba Canada; Taylor Stegman, Drayton, N.D.
Event Planning: 3rd Place - McKinley Kartes, West Fargo, N.D.; Jamison Zaun, Wahpeton, N.D.
Financial Statement Analysis: 1st Place - Travyen Brownlee, Pembroke Pines, Fla.; Cole Dukart, Killdeer, N.D.
International Marketing: 1st Place - Josh Erfle, New Salem, N.D.; Brendon Salander, Argusville, N.D.
Marketing Communications: 1st Place - Abigayle Kohls, Mayville, N.D.; Creighton Pfau, West Fargo, N.D.
Mayville State University’s Collegiate DECA chapter offers for 2021-22 are Abby Kohls, president; Taylor Stegman, vice president; Jamison Zaun, vice president of public relations; Travyen Brownlee, vice president of accounting/fundraising; Brendon Salander, vice president of fundraising; Nick Preston, vice president of member relations. Chapter advisors are Dustin Olson and Rob Johnston.