The Raymore-Peculiar DECA Chapter had 16 students qualify and compete at the 71st annual Missouri DECA State Career Development Conference March 24-26 at Crown Center in Kansas City.  They joined nearly 2,000 high school marketing students, teachers and administrators from across the state.

Maddie Welty placed 4th in Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling and will advance to compete at the International DECA competition April 26 to May 1 in Orlando, Fla.

DECA is an international association of high school students studying marketing, finance, hospitality and management. Missouri DECA has more than 7,900 members with 150 chapters across the state.

During the DECA Conference in Kansas City, members were evaluated by more than 150 business and industry professionals who serve as competitive events judges. Participating students competed in problem-solving realistic workplace topics and case studies through one-on-one interaction with an executive or community member.

Students participated in principles of business administration, individual series events, business operations research projects, team decision making events, chapter team projects, leadership academies, and entrepreneurship projects.

DECA’s industry-validated competitive events are aligned with the National Curriculum Standards in the career clusters of marketing, business management and administration, finance, and hospitality and tourism.

This year’s conference featured keynote peaker, Anthony Oneal, who is a Wall Street Journal national best-selling author. Participants were also entertained by hypnotist Ricky Kalmon. The theme of this year’s conference, “Dream IT Believe IT Achieve IT” captured the attitude and spirit of Missouri DECA and its members.