Students from the Saline County Career Center, accompanied by Advisor Kerry Henley, participated in the Missouri DECA Fall Leadership Conference held in Branson, Missouri on October 12-13.

This event provided students with opportunities to engage in leadership and educational workshops, prepare for competitive events, and enhance their leadership skills.

Trevor Watkins, the Missouri State Vice President of Community Service and a member of the Missouri State Action Team, facilitated both the opening and closing sessions of the conference. The event also included elections for district vice presidents across all 12 Missouri DECA districts. Notably, District 4, to which the Saline County Career Center DECA Chapter belongs, featured four candidates competing for the position.

Vanesa Cortes, serving as the DECA Vice President of Career Development at SCCC, successfully ran for the District Vice President position in District 4, triumphing over three other candidates. As she embarks on her first term as District Vice President, she will represent Missouri DECA District #4 at district, state, and international conferences, actively contributing to the district’s objectives for the year.

Additionally, a team of five students from the Saline County Career Center DECA Chapter has advanced to the next stage of competition in the AdZou Challenge after securing the runner-up position for their campaign. The AdZou Challenge is an immersive event that spans an entire day in December, allowing students to explore the dynamic field of strategic communication while participating in a statewide advertising competition. The team consists of Peyton Marshall, Trevor Watkins, Vanesa Cortes, Heidi Jimenez, and Mattie Weaver. They will compete in December for the opportunity to be recognized as the top team this year, going up against 11 other leading teams.

Missouri DECA is a nationally recognized organization, boasting over 7,000 members across 12 districts and 153 chapters statewide.