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Mayville State students who attended the international Collegiate DECA conference in Anaheim were (front, l-r) Amber Montag, Finley, N.D.; Bailey Drader, Arthur, N.D.; Brittany Olson, Hunter, N.D.; Cierra Steele, Pingree, N.D.; Kiah Smith, Lansford, N.D.; Nisa Rajput, Harare, Zimbabwe; Melissa Kassube, Eagle Bend, Minn.; and Nicole Schwanke, Dilworth, Minn. Pictured in the back row (l-r) are Eric Domier, Mayville, N.D.; Phil Dukart, Killdeer, N.D.; Josh Seminario, Fairbanks, Alaska; Ademola Adekunle, Ibadan, Nigeria; Wes Bernier, Anchorage, Alaska; Mitch Lacher, Christine, N.D.; Adam Edwards, London, England; Chris Snook, Newton, N.J.; and AJ Sanchez, St. Thomas, N.D.

 

Seventeen Mayville State University Collegiate DECA students participated in the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Anaheim, Calif. April 16-21, 2013. Several of Mayville State’s DECA students were recognized for their individual performances, and the chapter as a whole also received high commendation.

The annual international conference provides an opportunity for national and international students to compete against each other in business-specific events. Students who attended the conference had previously qualified to compete at the international level, based on their performance at their state competitions. North Dakota’s state conference was held was held in Fargo in February.

“The team is very proud of the accomplishments made within the last year,” said Mayville State DECA chapter marketing and public relations officer Nicole Schwanke. “Our active members increased from11 attending ICDC in 2012 to 17 attending in 2013. In addition, the number of female participants has increased from only two women attending ICDC last year to eight this year!”

As a team, the Mayville State University chapter received the Community Service Award, which is meant to recognize Collegiate DECA chapters for civic activities performed on campuses and in their communities. The Mayville chapter also earned the Chapter Leadership Passport Award at the Presidential level, the highest level awarded by the DECA program. The award recognizes the chapters that have excelled in ensuring that their members are actively engaged in the Collegiate DECA program and have far exceeded their chapter goals related to DECA.

Mayville State’s chapter was highly successful in individual competitions as well. Placing third in International Marketing were Chris Snook and Nisa Rajput. The team of Eric Domier and AJ Sanchez earned a top ten finish in Business Ethics.

The following Mayville State students received certificates of excellence: Human Resources, Mitch Lacher; Restaurant and Food Service Management, Amber Montag; Business Ethics, Eric Domier & AJ Sanchez; and International Marketing, Chris Snook & Nisa Rajput.

 “As a chapter, we sincerely appreciate the support we have received this year,” said Nicole Schwanke. “We especially thank our advisors, Dustin Olson and Rob Johnston. We also extend a special thank you to many individuals for their behind-the-scenes efforts that made this conference trip possible.”

 Collegiate DECA’s overlying mission is to “prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.” Collegiate DECA is open to all students who hold an interest in business and/or computer information systems. 

 Find Mayville State’s Collegiate DECA chapter on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mayvillestatedeca to see photos from the Anaheim trip, as well as information about the chapter.