DECA students place in top 10 at international competition

Nineteen Camas High School marketing students traveled to Anaheim, Calif., for the DECA International Career Development Conference in April. Students competed in a variety of marketing competitions against others from the United States and Canada.

The local CHS chapter had six of its students qualify for the final round of competition, and four place in the top 10. DECA students come from the various marketing classes at the high school.

Finalists included Megan Napier, Amanda Shi, Madison Berkeley, Jasmyne Samuels, Annika Bales, and Cameron Vega.

In order to make finals, students had to place in the top 18 of 128 in each event.

During competition, they completed a written test and solved role-play scenarios, judged by members of the local business community.

After making the final round of competition, students completed an additional role-play activity to determine the top 10 in that event. Results were as follows:

Cameron Vega,third-place, Automotive Services Marketing; Annika Bales, fifth-place, Hotel and Lodging Marketing; Madison Berkeley and Jasmyne Samuels, fourth-place, Hospitality Team Decision Making.

Other students from Camas who qualified to compete at the international competition were Jake Hsu, Mary Leighton, Kassidi Sorensen, Nicole Madrigal, Katie Shin, Sierra Brown, Kathryn Johnson, Blake Christopher, Sarah Kelley, Oliver Stanchfield, Bradley Stanchfield, Adam Peterson and Vaughn Okerlund.

“Students gained experience through the marketing competition while developing friendships inside and outside of their chapter,” said Blake Christopher, DECA public relations officer. “They were also able to visit the Disney theme parks located in the area in their spare time. Some of the chapter members are underclassmen and are looking forward to the challenges of attempting to qualify again next year.”