KALAMAZOO, Mich.—In a field of more than 1,200 competitors, Western Michigan University students stood out at the Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference. At the competition in Austin, Texas, business students tested their skills in a variety of contexts in both prepared and extemporaneous case studies and presentations. Four students placed in the international competition:
- Ashlyn Thom from Plainwell, Michigan, placed first in the sales management and leadership category where she was given an unknown prompt and generated a strategic solution and presented it via role-play to the head of the company.
- Alexis Ehlebracht from Marcellus, Michigan, placed second in the professional sales category where she chose a product or service to sell to an ultimate consumer with a prepared presentation.
- Suzy Davila from Northville, Michigan, placed third in the fashion merchandising and marketing category where she examined a practical case study concerning marketing, merchandising and management roles in retail and wholesale environments.
- Liam Zoli from Canton, Michigan, placed third in the corporate finance category where he analyzed potential solutions for a company’s financial situation, including presenting a financial plan to stakeholders.
In only its second year, DECA at WMU has soared in terms of value-added, experience-driven learning opportunities for students.
“Our recent accomplishments at Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference highlight the students’ hard work and dedication, and I am incredibly proud of our entire chapter,” says Scott VanAvery, chapter co-advisor. “Our business students excelled both on and off the stage, earning praise for their enthusiastic support of one another. Seeing our team thrive and be recognized fuels our fire for future victories—we’re just getting started!”
Students agree that DECA at WMU stands out among co-curricular engagement for students. “I became involved in DECA because it was different than other student organizations at Western and helped me react quickly to topics within my major,” says Thom. “Now after completing the year and winning first place in my role-play competition, I can say that I have developed numerous skills and have been able to think outside the box, become a strong leader and teammate, and develop a winning mentality.”
Ehlebracht says she was looking for a community when she joined the chapter. “Through DECA, I’ve enhanced my problem-solving and communication skills. Competing internationally taught me the value of preparation and adaptability; I also had the opportunity to network with college students from around the world. In addition to creating valuable connections, DECA at WMU is a great talking point on my resume.”
Professional development and case competitions are experiences that WMU Haworth encourages all students to consider. “The atmosphere of a DECA conference is always filled with a lot of energy and ambitious students ready to compete,” adds Davila. “Workshops are led by industry professionals and cover numerous topics within leadership and business; these have given me great opportunities to build relationships with professionals to gain knowledge and further my career. Overall, the experience has fostered personal and professional growth for me, while still being a lot of fun.”
Zoli echoes these sentiments. “I enjoyed the ability to meet students from a diverse range of universities and develop connections that will last beyond college. I also thoroughly enjoyed the competition and how it brought out the best in me. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of something that pushes you to become the best version of yourself professionally.”
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