WWU students claim awards at tri-state Collegiate DECA competition

3/5/2012 Mary Ann Beahon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (573) 592-1127

 

It was no surprise to Linda Duke when students in William Woods University's Collegiate DECA performed well at the recent tri-state competition.
 
"William Woods has exceptional, bright students, and they do very well in these competitions," said Duke, WWU assistant professor of marketing and business and the group's adviser.
Members of WWU's Collegiate DECA joined more than 140 other college students from Missouri, Kansas and Illinois Feb. 16 and 17 to compete in the annual Collegiate DECA tri-state competition.
A student-driven organization, Collegiate DECA values leadership, innovation, integrity and teamwork. It prepares students for careers by integrating skills learned in the classroom into real world experiences.
 
Collegiate DECA programs assist in developing academically prepared, community-oriented, professionally responsible, experienced leaders.
 
The competition consists of many different individual and team events, and the students select which to participate in. Although all of the events relate to business, students have a wide array of events to choose from"”all of which provide an excellent opportunity for them to gain experience and network.
 
"DECA acts as a mentoring tool to where students get a realistic preview of careers that they've been looking at so they go into the right career to begin with," Duke said.
 
She added, "The value they gain from both tri-state and, especially, the international [competition] just can't be replaced. You meet people that will hire you, and that will network with you for future career opportunities."
                                                                       
Altogether 21 WWU students competed in this year's tri-state conference at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Mo.   About half of the students who attended placed in the top five. They are:
  • Bridgette Doig, Escondido, Calif., and Elizabeth Thomas, South Amherst, Ohio, first in entrepreneurship;
  • Olivia Koselanky, Sterling Heights, Mich., first in sales;
  • Katie GannonSt. Louis, Mo., second  in web design;
  • Lisa Coppersmith, Houston, Texas , third in web design;
  • Bridgette Doig, third in marketing management;
  • Tricia Jackson, Valley Park, Mo., and Tara Sebold, Fults, Ill. third in business ethics;
  • Olivia Nicholson, St. Louis, Mo., third in hotel management and third place in travel and tourism;
  • Dacia Smith, La Grange, Ill., third in fashion;
  • Kasey Radcliff, St. Peters, Mo., and Dacia Smith, third, sports and entertainment marketing.
  • Kasey Radcliff, fifth in retail management;
Many of the other WWU students who attended placed at the proficiency level.
 
First and second place winners will travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, April 20-24, where they will compete on the international level. According to Duke, at least 1,200 other students will be competing.
 
Next year, Duke hopes to expand the program even further and introduce more students to the team.  She encourages students to join DECA as it is a doable activity that will provide countless opportunities.
 
For more information, contact Duke at (573) 592 4305 or linda.duke@williamwoods.edu.
                                                             
CUTLINES:
William Woods University students Elizabeth Thomas (left) and Bridgette Doig (right) capture first in entrepreneurship in Collegiate DECA's recent tri-state competition. With them is their adviser, Linda Duke.
 
Olivia Koselanky takes first in sales.