AHS DECA QUALIFIES SIX FOR INTERNATIONAL MARKETING CONFERENCE AHS Earns Top Community Service Awards Including Steve Melzer’s Top Marketing Excellence Award
Lake Geneva, WI March 2015 – March 10-12, 2015, over 3,000 high school Marketing students and business
people from all over Wisconsin came together to compete in the Wisconsin DECA (an association of Marketing
students) State Career Development Conference at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva Resort. Students
applied everything they have learned through their Marketing classes in role plays, comprehensive exams, and
projects.
Arrowhead DECA qualified 21 students for the state competition. Prior to state competition, these teens
had to participate in and win at the district competition. AHS DECA qualifiers spent three days in intense
competition to prove just how well they can take what they’ve learned about marketing, management
and entrepreneurship and apply it to real-world business situations. In written reports, exams, business
presentations, role-plays and computer simulations, these teenagers diagnosed business problems and offer
realistic, workable solutions.
AHS DECA members devoted many hours, both in the classroom and outside
school, to increasing their knowledge of how marketing and business work. Then
they spent even more time writing up research reports and business plans,
designing marketing campaigns, and polishing their role-playing and presentation
skills. They must be prepared to explain how they would handle the real-life
business scenarios that DECA’s judges will grill them on during the competition.
In addition to competition, the AHS DECA chapter earned several state awards for outstanding achievement.
At the Open Session AHS was recognized by the official DECA charity MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association)
and placed 1st
$4,600 contribution. Also, Arrowhead earned the state “Acts of Kindness” for outstanding community
service projects and activities. Plus, the AHS chapter earned the “100+” hours award
by demonstrating student involvement in over 3000 community service hours during
the school year. In addition, Steve Melzer, DECA Advisor earned the Marketing
Educator of Excellence award for the state of Wisconsin earning a $500 scholarship for
professional development.
AHS DECA had a great run at state this year, qualifying six students for the International Career Development
Conference (ICDC) in Orlando, FL April 25-28, 2015. Two students also earned the right to attend the
Emerging Leaders Leadership Academy in Orlando, FL as well. The highlight was senior Colleen Baber and
Ashley Redman taking 1st
competitors by constructing a business plan and a presentation. Also, the results from the state competition
are as follows:
Place in the state for their top MDA contribution contest with over 200 schools with their
and 4th place in the Entrepreneurship-Participating event from over 40 statewide
Colleen Baber *Entrepreneurship – Participating Event – 1st
Place Overall
Hotel & Lodging Management – Top 10 Overall – Medalist Two Role Plays
Ashley Redman *Entrepreneurship – Participating Event – 4th
Place Overall
Retail Merchandising Event – Top 10 Overall – Medalist Test – One Role Play
Meritt Schoenecker *Marketing Communications – 5th
Place Overall – Medalist Two Role Plays
Entrepreneurship – Written Event – Top 10
Caroline Tjarksen *Marketing Communications – 5th
Place Overall – Medalist Two Role Plays
Entrepreneurship – Written Event – Top 10
Zach Beeck *Sports & Entertainment Marketing – 4th
Place Overall – Medalist Two Role Plays
Sports Promotion Plan – Top 10
Nicholas Genatempo *Sports & Entertainment Marketing – 4th
Place Overall – Medalist Two Role Plays
Sports Promotion Plan – Top 10
Gretchen Yeager *Emerging Leaders Academy Nominee
Austin Grandinetti *Emerging Leaders Academy Nominee
Olivia O’Connor Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling – Finalist – Medalist in Test
Quick Service Restaurant Marketing – Finalist – Medalist Test
Mary Bartelson Buying & Merchandising Marketing – Medalist Two Role Plays
Fashion Promotion Plan – Top 10
Rachel Chupka Buying & Merchandising Marketing – Medalist Two Role Plays
Fashion Promotion Plan – Top 10
Kendall Bennett Business Law & Ethics Management – Top 10 – Medalist Two Role Plays
International Business Plan – Top 10
Elsa Carey Business Law & Ethics Management – Top 10- Medalist Two Role Plays
International Business Plan – Top 10
Hannah Frankowski Learn & Earn Project – 6th
Place Overall
Hospitality Services Event – Medalist Role Play
Riley Knapek Learn & Earn Project – 6th
Place Overall
Hospitality Services Event – Medalist Role Play
