The 46th annual DECA District I Career Development Conference is scheduled Saturday, Jan. 6, at University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Memorial Student Center.
The competition is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. followed by awards. An orientation begins at 9 a.m.
More than 640 students from 20 area high schools are registered.
They will compete in 18 individual and six team events. Students’ skills are tested in business services, marketing management, hospitality and tourism, marketing strategy, retail sales and services, sports and entertainment marketing, financial services and entrepreneurship.
Last year, 48 students advanced to the state competition, led by West Salem with 11.
More than 80 regional business and marketing professionals volunteer as competition judges. To volunteer, register here.
The event, organized and run by the UW-Stout Marketing and Business Education Association, is an applied learning experience for high school competitors and leaders from regional marketing and business education programs.
This year’s student coordinator from UW-Stout is Allison Rigotti, of West Salem. She is a sophomore majoring in marketing and business education.
“The DECA District 1 conference concurrently prepares the university’s marketing and business education majors to become teachers while benefiting high school competitors,” said Professor Urs Haltinner, director of UW-Stout’s doctorate degree in career and technical education and an event coordinator.
“DECA prepares youth for career pathways in marketing, business management and administration. It is the premier career and technical student organization serving marketing programs in high schools and colleges around the globe,” Haltinner said.
For more information about the competition, contact Haltinner, 715-232-1493 or Rigotti.
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Photos
Top: Allison Rigotti, a UW-Stout marketing and business education major, is helping coordinate the DECA District 1 Career Development Conference Jan. 6 at UW-Stout.
Bottom: Urs Haltinner
