DECA members capitalize on skills, preparation at State competition
Months of preparation finally paid off when members of West’s DECA association took part in the Wisconsin State competition earlier this month, taking home a plethora of rankings and awards. This competition gave students the opportunity to showcase their leadership, marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship skills while representing their school on a statewide level. DECA encompasses all aspects of public speaking and allows for students’ innovation skills to expand.
Junior Elizabeth Lynn, the President of the DECA association, placed second at the State Career Development Conference competing in Marketing Communications and has been offered a spot at the International Career Development Conference. Seniors Elizabeth Neubauer and Madysen Probst competed in the School Based Enterprise as partners, and will be moving to Nationals. And senior Ethan Toppins, who competed at state for Accounting Applications, will be taking Neubauer’s spot at Nationals.
Business teacher and DECA advisor Regina Johnson believes the hardest part about preparing for the state competition as an advisor was trying to navigate all the complications along the way.
“Now that I’ve been through it, I think I have a better idea of what we can do. I think that next year, I’m going to incorporate some of the DECA things into some of my classes to kind of encourage kids,” she said.
Johnson loves the thrill that comes with competing at state. Although the students work extremely hard at these competitions, the opportunity to enjoy the experience comes along with it.
“I hadn’t been to the state competition since I was in DECA when I was in high school, so I forgot how grand it is,” she said. “They had music playing, and they had their officers, like DJ’s for it.”
Neubauer felt that the most memorable experience at the State competition was hanging out with everyone there. The chance to unwind and bond with her teammates made it extra special.
“We had so much fun playing games together and watching TV. On Tuesday night, everyone got to go to a ‘casino,’ which was just a big conference room in the Grand Geneva, gambling with fake money,” she said. “Ethan and I played blackjack and probably should’ve gotten out while we still had money”
Although there were fun moments, a lot of anxiety also came along with the idea of participating. Neubauer and her teammates had to push through their nerves in order to perform in front of judges.
“The hardest part of the whole thing was sitting outside the judges’ room waiting for our school’s name to be called,” she said. “I felt very nervous beforehand, but once we got into the room and started presenting I was totally fine.”
Beyond competition, many students say DECA helps them develop important life skills. Toppins feels that he gained experience that he will use beyond high school.
“During my time in DECA, I have greatly improved my people skills and my ability to communicate clearly.” he said.
The DECA association prepares students for the outside world and offers many advantages to prospective members.
“It looks great for college applications,” said Johnson, “It also helps with any sort of presentation skills, especially if you’re going into any sort of business.”
DECA also has opportunities for scholarships and allows for students to see other aspects in the business path as students also get to meet with colleges and potential employers. For future students interested in joining DECA, Johnson suggests taking a business class or simply talking to her.
“Just come in and start talking about what we can do, and where we can go, and what you want to do,” she said.
Senior Jack Uecker encourages anyone, regardless of abilities, to join DECA not only because of the amazing opportunities it provides in high school, but also for life preparation.
“I believe that anyone considering joining DECA should just go ahead and do it,” he said. “Though it may seem intimidating at first, it’s a very enjoyable experience that provides real world skills in a fun environment while building a strong connection between other DECA peers. All you have to do is try your best and remember to have fun!”
by Ayesha Zafar Ullah
Published March 20, 2026
Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue VI