The business and information technology (BIT) department co-hosted the DECA District 5 competition in February, welcoming over 300 high school students from 12 Missouri schools to Missouri S&T.

DECA, an organization with over 75 years of history, prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. The event featured individual and team competitions as well as poster presentations in areas such as marketing, finance, entrepreneurship and management. More than 30 judges, including local business professionals and educators, evaluated the participants.

The collaboration between BIT, DECA District 5 advisor Peggy Arnold, and competitive event director Sarah Edwards ensured a seamless event. BIT students volunteered at the competition, engaging with participants while promoting Missouri S&T’s programs alongside representatives from S&T’s admissions team and the Kummer Center for STEM Education.

DECA boasts over 4,000 high school chapters nationwide with more than 290,000 members, including over 160 chapters in Missouri. This competition highlighted the organization’s mission to foster leadership and entrepreneurial skills among students preparing for college and careers.