MU Collegiate DECA Excels at International Career Development Conference

In April, 18 members of University of Missouri Collegiate DECA participated in the International Career Development Conference (ICDC), which was held virtually.

By participating in the conference, DECA members had the opportunity to attend sessions to learn more about their chosen professions, participate in virtual challenges and connect with more than 1,500 other collegiate members from across the country and around the world.

During the competition phase of the conference, University of Missouri Collegiate DECA members actively demonstrated their knowledge and skills by putting into practice what they are learning together as a team and in their classrooms.

All 11 of the Mizzou College DECA students who advanced to the final rounds placed in the competition.

Mizzou Collegiate DECA Advisor Lindsay Hing said she was impressed by the students’ performance, particularly in light of an unusual and challenging year.

“I am beyond overjoyed at what these student have accomplished this year,” she said. “Their dedication to DECA and putting the team first made overcoming challenges during a pandemic achievable. They completely crushed the competition and all 11 finalists placed, which is phenomenal.” 

DECA students appreciated the opportunity to grow as business professionals while showcasing what they have learned at Mizzou and through DECA.

“Collegiate DECA, both at state and ICDC level, has given me a way to show my business skill strengths and find ways that I can continue to grow and move forward in business professional settings,” Ashley Swaters, a junior who won first place in Sales Management, said. “ICDC showed that there is so much potential in the business professionals who will transition into the workplace soon. I’ve learned so much from the experience and I’m so grateful to have an amazing team and advisor at Mizzou to compete alongside!”

The following students placed in the competition:

First Place

Jacob Rush and Mason Williams - Entrepreneurship: Starting a Business

Fiona Thurow - Marketing Management

Ashley Swaters - Sales Management Meeting

 

Second Place

Alexis Daigle - Marketing Management

Taylor Hayes - Entrepreneurship Operations

 

Third Place

Taylor Hayes - Entrepreneurship Challenge

 

Fifth Place

Davis Kendrick - Hotel & Lodging

 

Sixth Place

Sophie Kovalenko - Restaurant and Food Service Management

Garred Oldham and Mariah Lawrence - Business Research Operations

 

Ninth Place

Nicole Overbay - Retail Management

 

Top Exam Finalists in Individual Events

Taylor Hayes - Entrepreneurship Operations

Davis Kendrick - Hotel & Lodging

Alexis Daigle – Marketing Management

Fiona Thurow - Marketing Management

Sophie Kovalenko - Restaurant and Food Service Management

Nichole Overbay - Retail Management

Ashley Swaters - Sales Management Meeting

 

Top Presentation Finalists in Individual Events

Alexis Daigle - Marketing Management

 

Overall Individual Event Finalists

Taylor Hayes - Entrepreneurship Operations

Davis Kendrick - Hotel & Lodging

Alexis Daigle – Marketing Management

Fiona Thurow - Marketing Management

Sophie Kovalenko - Restaurant and Food Service Management

Nichole Overbay - Retail Management

Ashley Swaters - Sales Management Meeting

 

Prepared Presentation Finalists

Garred Oldham and Mariah Lawrence - Business Research

 Jacob Rush and Mason Williams -  Entrepreneurship: Starting a Business

 

Top Three Trophy Winners

Entrepreneurship Operations

Second place: Taylor Hayes

 

Marketing Management

First place: Fiona Thurow

Second place: Alexis Daigle

 

Sales Management Meeting

First place: Ashley Swaters

 

Entrepreneurship – Starting a Business

First place: Jacob Rush and Mason Williams