Eight S-C Students Advance to DECA International Competition

Eight Smith-Cotton High School students were recognized at the state DECA competition on March 4 in Kansas City and will next compete at the international level.

Moving on to the DECA International Career Development Conference, set for April 26-
30, in Anaheim, Calif., are:

• Marianne Treuner and Brady Anderson for School-based Enterprise-Food Operations -
Gold Level

• Mylan Hawkins and Alexander Rice for School-based Enterprise-Retail Operations –
Gold Level

• Skyler Green and Jacelyn Lancaster for Business Services Operations Research –4th place

• Ashlei Boeschen and Malaki Reed for Financial Literacy Project – 4th place

Other S-C state finalists were Ashlyn Gerlt and Faith Lewis for a Business Solutions Project.

The S-C DECA chapter send 25 members to compete with more than 2,000 other
students from across the state at the Missouri DECA Career Development Conference.

S-C DECA Advisor Kassie Nickel praised her students’ dedication, collaboration and hard work.

“Smith-Cotton DECA has achieved an outstanding milestone this year,” she said. “With
an initial showing of 54 students at the District level, 25 advancing to the State competition, and now eight students earning the privilege to represent their chapter at
the National level in Anaheim, Calif., the journey has been nothing short of amazing. The sense of camaraderie and teamwork displayed by these young minds has not only led to their individual success but has also shown the true spirit of DECA – an organization that fosters not only business skills but also a strong sense of community."

In the photos:
*Smith-Cotton DECA students who will compete in April at the DECA International Career Development Conference in Anaheim, Calif., are, from left, Marianne Treuner, Brady Anderson, Mylan Hawkins, Alexander Rice, Skyler Green, Jacelyn Lancaster, Ashlei Boeschen and Malaki Reed.

*Smith-Cotton students Ashlyn Gerlt and Faith Lewis were DECA state finalists for
Business Solutions Project.