On January 11th Mount Si High School’s DECA group – now 55 students strong and the largest ever for the school – headed to the Regional DECA Competition at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. They competed against 1,0000 students from schools in Issaquah, Bellevue and Sammamish, showing their business and marketing skills.
Students enrolled in a Mount Si marketing courses (current or past) are eligible to join DECA, an organization designed to prepare students for careers in business, marketing and entrepreneurship. Before heading to the competition, students complete a written exam that tests their knowledge of business and marketing concepts. Then at the competition they participate in business role playing scenarios and have just 10 minutes to come up with a solution and explain it to a volunteer business judge.
According to MSHS Marketing teacher, Kelly Hawkins, students who score in the Top 8 for any portion of their event – role play or written exam – receive a medal and those who score in the top 8 overall (average of both categories) get a medal, as well as advance to the state competition.
Mount Si had 8 finalists at regionals: Banner Hovinga, Parker Wutheric, Ashley Gothelf, Sam Thompson, Quinn McQuay, Ava Brodie, Makenna Lau, Oliver Lang, with Sophomores Makenna and Ava advancing to state in March in Marketing Management Team Decision Making. The two ladies placed 5th in that regional event.
Hawkins said she welcomes community members interested in being involved next year – either by judging the competition or helping her prep students for competition. Hawkins said she is always looking for experienced business people to join her team. You can contact Kelly at hawkinsk@svsd410.org
