For Millard North’s DECA chapter, the rhythm of collaboration and competition begins long before the first event or tournament of the year. Dedicated to career readiness, the club helps students excel in various business sectors, making its mark through leadership and innovation.
The organization is one of the largest in MN and has impacted hundreds of students throughout its time at MN. Yet, this school year marks a change for DECA, one that celebrates its rich history, but also signals an era of growth.
When DECA’s previous advisor, Allison Goodman, left the school last year, the organization needed someone to take on the position. New teacher Jacobi and veteran teacher Ryan Foehlinger took on the job and now serve as the organization’s new advisors.
“Being a new teacher at MNHS, DECA gives me the opportunity to connect with business students outside the classroom and foster a positive relationship. I have
always enjoyed preparing students for competitions,” new DECA advisor Trent Jacobi said.
The advisors hope to build on DECA’s strong foundation while bringing in new ideas and fresh energy to elevate the organization.
“I see my role as both a mentor and facilitator. My job is to create opportunities for students to lead, collaborate, and innovate. DECA is a student-driven organization, so I focus on supporting their ideas, providing guidance, and ensuring they have the tools and resources they need to succeed,” Jacobi said.
The advisors have been working with the current leadership team to learn the ins and outs of running a successful chapter. Seniors Raylie Hollingsworth and Akhil Bettadapura, Co-Presidents of the school chapter, have taken charge of guiding the advisors.
“Last year, I could take a back seat and trust that our advisors knew what they were doing, while this year, we have two new advisors who came in knowing very little about DECA and how to run a whole chapter,” Hollingsworth said.
It isn’t just the leadership team that has strived to welcome the DECA newcomers, the whole chapter has come together with the common goal of making this transition as smooth as possible.
“Students have responded very well to the leadership change. A majority of our members this year are new to the club, and we have ensured that their experience remains the same as previous years. The veteran members have been very helpful in acquainting the new advisors to the club,” Bettadapura said.
While this change has created a new dynamic and motivation for DECA, it’s clear that the organization will continue to provide opportunities for students and will still be in full drive to help students excel during their preparations and actual competitions.
“Even with the change in leadership, I think that we’ll be able to continue our competitive success from previous years and even expand on it,” Bettadapura said. “We have continued to host biweekly competition prep sessions in order to ensure that they are ready to succeed.”
By combining extensive preparations with efforts to create a fun and inclusive atmosphere, DECA aims to keep students engaged through a well-rounded experience.
“This year we are trying our hardest to be inclusive and fun. We have always had success on DECA’s competition side, so we wanted to focus more on our networking side this year. We are planning outings and socials such as going to Valas for all members to attend,” Hollingsworth said.
DECA’s competition strategies are clearly effective, especially when it comes to preparing students for the International Career Development Conference each year. It’s these accomplishments that unify the team and make leading DECA extremely enjoyable.
“Seeing students grow in confidence and develop their skills has been incredibly rewarding. Watching them step outside their comfort zones, whether it’s presenting at competitions or leading a meeting. I am happy to be a part of their journey,” Jacobi said.
This dedication to fostering student growth aligns with the aspirations for the organization’s future. It reflects a shared vision for encouraging students to achieve gratitude and excellence.
“I believe Millard North DECA will continue to make a great name for itself and hopefully continue at the rate it has been for the last couple of years,” Hollingsworth said.
Overall, the shared commitment to student growth and organizational success ensures a new era for Millard North DECA, one with a continued legacy of excellence and more impact than ever.