Alma students return from DECA conference with awards

Ty Thompson, Fort Smith Times Record
·2 min read
Alma students presenting their awards from the DECA conference in Fort Smith
Alma students presenting their awards from the DECA conference in Fort Smith

Alma students brought home awards from the fall DECA conference that was recently held in Fort Smith. Out of the 350 attendees, 70 were from Alma.

DECA is an organization that teaches students various business-related skills like marketing, finance, hospitality, and more.

The keynote speaker, Amber Taggard, professional organizer and the owner of The Organizer Chicks, shared her story of how she took her “weird idea” and turned it into a business that helps people create organized and clutter-free lives. She also shared the importance of giving back to your community.

This was Alma students Katie Newton and Ava Burnett's first time at a conference. They both learned all of the different things that go into business.

“You and your company can benefit from failure, as that is a learning experience,” Newton said.

Burnett added that some skills needed in the workplace are caring, candor, creativity, collaboration and commitment.

Alma DECA is supporting the Arkansas Children’s Northwest Hospital, Muscular Dystrophy Association and Project Linus, which collects blankets for children.

The DECA chapter set a goal of 75% participation from members, which included bringing 1.5 yards of fleece or a one-dollar donation that would be put towards purchasing fleece.

Many of the students received awards from various cluster tests based on national marketing standards.

In the Business Administration Cluster exam, several Alma students placed: Blake Holstead (first), Emily Burdick (second), Weston Key (third), Tyler Allen (fourth) and Brayden Peppas (sixth).

In the Business Management and Administration cluster exam, students from Alma placing were Aryan Tapia (first), Noah Downs (second), Marti Lineberry (fourth), Nathan Machen (fifth) and Anna Howard (sixth).

In the Personal Financial Literacy cluster exam, Colton Wormke took first place

Finally, In the Marketing cluster exam, students from Alma placed: Mason Collins and Kimbrie Smith (tied first), Brant Peppas and Zoe Taylor (tied third) and Katie Newton (sixth).

Alma DECA is currently celebrating DECA Month, which is the month of November. Members are getting prepared for academic competitions which will be held in February.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Alma students return from DECA conference with awards