Badger DECA Students Place 3rd at International Career Development Conference

Posted on 05/03/2019

Badger High School DECA students earned 3^rd place at the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, FL, for School Based Enterprise Food Service Operations. Elise Carter (senior), Kylie Germann (junior) and Ashlyn Welch (sophomore) excelled through the competition from local to state to international on their quest.

This year there were over 500 schools around the country that earned Gold Certification to advance in competition.  The Food Service Operations store project was completed by 224 chapters.  These Badger students competed in one of the largest events at ICDC this year.  The written project that qualified the chapter to compete was submitted by School Store Managers Ryan Johnson (senior) and Ben Rademaker (senior).

According to DECA, school-based enterprise (SBE) is an entrepreneurial operation in a school setting that provides goods and services to meet the needs of the market. SBEs are managed and operated by students as hands-on learning laboratories that integrate National Curriculum Standards in Marketing, Finance, Hospitality and Management. Marketing educators and DECA advisors have utilized this effective educational tool for over four decades to provide their students with realistic and practical learning experiences that reinforce classroom instruction, enhance 21^st century skill development, and prepare students for college and careers.

DECA’s School-based Enterprise Certification Program was developed to provide recognition for outstanding achievement by school-based enterprises and to motivate SBEs to strive for excellence and growth.  Gold Certified and Gold Re-certified SBEs attending the SBE Academy at DECA’s International Career Development Conference will participate in a competition consisting of an oral presentation judged by business professionals. The topic of competition rotates each year and is based on one of the 10 business standards covered in the written SBE Chapter Certification project.

“Our DECA chapter is proud of our 14 members who traveled to Orlando for the past few days to compete in the International Career Development Conference,” said co-advisor Phil Huff.  “Competing with almost 20,000 members in a variety of events is a great accomplishment, but making the stage at internationals for recognition is even more difficult.”

Other ICDC Competitors:

• Johnson, wrote the Gold Certified School-Based Enterprise project and placed top 10 on the written test in Integrated Marketing Campaign Event;
• Carson Derda (senior) and Ethan Larson (junior) International Finals (top 20 in the world) in Integrated Marketing Campaign Service. 

Back L to R
Ethan Larson, Top 20 International Finalist, Integrated Marketing Campaign – Service; 
Carson Derda, Top 20 International Finalist; Integrated Marketing Campaign – Service; 
Ryan Johnson, Top 10 Written Test, Integrated Marketing Campaign – Event.

Front L to R
Kylie Germann, Ashlyn Welch, Elise Carter, 3rd Place Overall, School Based Enterprise - FoodService

L to R
Ashlyn Welch, Elise Carter, Kylie Germann on stage being awarded their award for International Career Development Competition 3rd Place Overall School Based Enterprise - Food Service Operations