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, California 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 Business Solutions Project.

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.”

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

Photos courtesy of Sedalia School District 200