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The students of the Belt DECA chapter returned from competition at the state career development conference (SCDC) in Missoula last Tuesday. The state event ran the course of three full days of competitions and fun events including performances by the likes of magician Michael Kent and country singer Stephanie Quayle.

The Belt chapter had great successes within their competitions over the weekend and will be sending a dozen students to the national convention in Anaheim, California. There are two general categories of competitions within DECA. Preprepared written projects with teams of 13 participants and impromptu role play scenarios with 12 participants on a team. In order to qualify for nationals a team must place top 2 in prepared events, or top 3 in a role play.

The following competitors placed notably in their events: Parker Osterman and Emerson Hoerner were state champions in their Financial Literacy Project. Reagan Jassen was state runner-up in Principles of Finance. Clayton Jassen, Ella Pethel, and Addi Urick ranked 3rd in their Community Giving Project. Jassen, Walker Maki, and Osterman finished 3rd in their Innovation Business Plan, and Gracie Watson and Pethel received 3rd in their International Business Plan. In addition to these top 3 finishers, Belt had a slew of finalists who placed within the top 5. DECA participants, if qualifying in more than one event, are only able to go to nationals in one. As a result, many Belt students were fortunate enough to be bumped up from near placings into a qualifying position as other schools dropped events.

From April 27th to May 1st, these students will represent Belt School at nationals: Ella Pethel, Addison Urick, Clayton Jassen, Walker Maki, Hans Bumgarner, Addee Hoffmann, McKenzie Pogany, Emerson Hoerner, Parker Osterman, Blake Waldner, Reagan Jassen, and Vannie Urick.

Advisor Taylor Mavrinac was very proud of the effort and dedication which these students put into their projects, and can’t wait to lead them on a trip to the Golden State. When asked about her first experience at state DECA, Reagan Jassen answered “State was even more fun than I expected and I am super excited to have qualified for nationals in my first year.”

Over the next few months, the Belt DECA chapter will be fundraising in the community for their trip to nationals and will appreciate any and all support.