The Central Methodist University DECA team gave its most impressive performance yet at last week’s Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Baltimore, Maryland. All five CMU students made the finals of their respective competitions, while Alexis McClure (sophomore/Poplar Bluff/accounting) brought home a third-place trophy.
Representing Central at the international competition were McClure in Managerial Accounting; Rachel Smith (senior/Wentzville/business), chapter president, in Travel and Tourism; Caitlyn King (sophomore/Leander, Tex./business) in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing; and Stephanie Rodriguez (sophomore/Subiaco, Ark./accounting) and Alan “AJ” Joens (junior/Park Forest, Ill./computer science) in the Event Planning team event. The CMU five were among nearly 70 Missouri students and advisors to attend the conference.
Competition occurred in two rounds, with high-scoring competitors selected to compete in the second and final round. All Central participants made the final round cut in this year’s competition, earning them recognition on stage and medals to take home. McClure and Smith earned proficiency medals as well, for scoring high in the individual events.
Central collegiate DECA advisor Dr. Dave Hickman called this year’s results “very significant and a big improvement for CMU,” as just one student made it to the final round at the 2021 ICDC.
The mission of Collegiate DECA is to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. This mission translates into graduates who are academically prepared, community oriented, professionally responsible, and experienced leaders. DECA values competence, innovation, integrity and teamwork. As a member of DECA, students apply their academics and develop professional skills through community service, individual and professional development activities, and academic competition.