Description of activity: An international marketing, management, entrepreneur organization that develops emerging leaders and provides real-world experiences for students in the areas of marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

Length of season: School year (September-May).  Depending on how far each student makes it in competition.

Meeting times: Membership meetings are typically once a month on Wednesday evenings or Thursday mornings (We try to accommodate religious holidays). We also have additional meetings as needed before competitions.

Meeting sites: Forum Rooms (2nd or 4th floor), A143, A148 or Culinary Express.  All meeting dates are on the calendar below.

Competitions: District - January (Wayzata High School), State - March (Minneapolis), and Internationals - April (locations vary).  All competition dates are on the calendar below.

Eligibility requirements: Enrollment in a business department class for the year of participation. Meet the Wayzata Public Schools Extra-Curricular Eligibility Requirements.

Average number of members: 300

Costs and/or needed equipment: Participation fee of $180 ($55 School fee, $40 DECA fee, $85 district fee) to cover WHS participation fee, state and national dues, prep materials, t-shirt and fees to participate at the district competition. Additional fees will be collected to attend FLC (Fall Leadership - Optional for first year members), CRLC (Central Region Leadership Conference - If we attend), SCDC (State competition), and ICDC (International competition) conferences.

Student leadership: Officer team selected by current members and advisors.

Lettering Criteria: Wayzata DECA members can letter in DECA by

1. Completing all volunteering requirements by District competition
2. Competing at the District competition and being called to stage as a State Qualifier
3. Obtaining a 80 or higher on the District competition test

or

1. Be an International Qualifier.

Pins: Wayzata DECA members that demonstrate leadership, dedication and perseverance will earn DECA pins for graduation.  Pins will be rewarded for members that accomplish one of the following: 4-year competing member, ICDC competitor, Wayzata DECA Officer.

Additional Information: DECA develops emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. Local chapters are affiliated with state and national organizations. Wayzata DECA helps students develop their presentation, analysis and soft skills to better prepare them for the real world.

2025-26 Changes & Event Topics 

Operations Research Events (OR's)

The 2025-2026 topic for each career category is for participants to collaborate with a local business or organization to seek and incorporate customer feedback into the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives and overall business strategies. Using the research findings, participants will develop a CSR strategy to achieve internal/external results.

This means understanding what customers value, what concerns them, and how their opinions can inform a company's CSR actions and practices. Some examples may include:

• ‍Environmental Initiatives: Customers can provide insights into which environmental issues they prioritize, such as reducing carbon emissions, protecting natural resources, or promoting sustainable practices.‍
• Social Impact Programs: Customer feedback can help companies identify social issues they are passionate about, such as poverty reduction, education, or community development.‍
• Ethical Sourcing and Manufacturing: Customers can provide feedback on a company's sourcing practices, labor standards, and manufacturing processes.‍
• Diversity and Inclusion: Customer perspectives can inform a company's efforts to create a more inclusive and diverse workplace and customer base.

Helpful Resources:

• ‍Why Social Responsibility is Important in Business‍
• 2025 Most Innovative Companies Corporate Social Responsibility‍
• Is Corporate Responsibility Good Business‍
• Create Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy‍
• Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy‍
• Customer Feedback‍
• Roth’s Fresh Markets Has Fostered Decades of Deep Community Investment ‍
• Kind Snacks to Test Paper Wrappers ‍
• Inside Amazon’s Sustainability Lab 

Financial Consulting (FCE)

For 2025-2026, you will assume the role of a financial consultant who specializes in advising small business owners and entrepreneurs. A potential new client, a local artist who sells paintings, prints, sculptures, etc., has recently turned their passion into a successful online business. The potential new client has scheduled a meeting with you to discuss strategies for managing their rapid growth.

Helpful Resources:

• ‍Tips for Handling Fast Business Growth‍
• Building Financial Security for Rapid Business Growth‍
• How to Handle Rapid Business Growth‍
• Sustainable Fast Business Growth‍
• Five Stages of Small Business Growth

Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling (HTPS)

For 2025-2026, you will assume the role of director of sales for a company specializing in social media influencer partnership strategy. The vice president of marketing for a local convention and visitors bureau has scheduled a meeting with you to discuss using your services to create an influencer program to drive brand awareness, increase hotel occupancy and create authentic visitor engagement.

Helpful Resources:

• Keys to Influencer-Driven Hotel Bookings‍
• Influencer Marketing in Hotels‍
• Is Paris Hilton The Perfect Spokesperson for Hilton Hotels?‍
• NFL Legend Jason Kelce Joining Marriott Bonvoy and Courtyard by Marriott as First-Ever ‘Fanbassador,’ Bringing Passionate NFL Fans a Series of Unforgettable Experiences

Professional Selling (PSE)

For 2025-2026, you will assume the role of a sales representative for a company that specializes in subscription-based employee training and development platforms. A local non-profit executive director has scheduled a meeting with you to explore how your platform can help upskill their staff, improve customer service, and increase employee retention. The executive director is particularly interested in solutions that are cost-effective, easy to implement, and tailored to the unique challenges of the non-profit industry.

Helpful Resources:

• How Learning and Development Can Retain and Attract Talent
• ‍Creating a Culture of Training and Development in the Workplace‍
• Why Businesses Should Invest in Employee Training‍
• Why are Learning Subscriptions Critical for Employees

2025-26 Competitive Changes

The following changes have been made to DECA’s Competitive Events Program effective 2025-2026.

• The broad category known as Written Events will now be referred to as Prepared Events.
• For current 10-page prepared events (Innovation Plan, Start Up Business Plan, Stock Market Game, Integrated Marketing Campaign-Event, Product and Service), the written component will now be a pitch deck. Specifications for the pitch deck will be included in the DECA Guide. The pitch deck will be uploaded prior to ICDC.

The following changes will be made to DECA’s Competitive Events Program effective 2026-2027.

• Full implementation of revised rubrics for all competitive events.

• President:   Sanajana Guruprasad
• Vice President/State Officer:   Wren Park
• VP of Communications/P.R.:   Joy Zhou
• VP of Community Involvement:   Rahul Billakanti
• VP of Competition:   Sarayu Gundla
• VP of Finance:   Prohitt Ram Kumar
• VP of Membership Development:   Aman Agrawal
• VP of Trojan Lockerroom (TLR):  Anjali Suresh
• Manager of TLR:   Ameya Rauniyar
• Manager of TLR:   Louis Dang

Officers by Grade:
Freshman:  Sanjana, Sarayu, & Wren
Sophomores:  Anjali, Joy, & Ameya
Juniors:  Prohitt & Louis
Seniors:  Aman & Rahul

April 25 - April 29
Atlanta, Georgia
Click here to see details

Chapter Service Volunteering

• Back-2-Business Days (August) Sign Up
• JJ Hill Days Sigh Up
• Football Games Volunteering Sign Up
• Boys' Basketball Games Volunteering Sign Up
• Girls' Basketball Games Volunteering Sign Up
• Girls' Volleyball Games Volunteering Sign Up
• District Conference Set-Up & Tear Down (1/24 & 25)
• Freshman Parent Orientation (8/26)
• Fall Social (TBD)
• Homecoming Block Party (10/10)
• Parent Open House (9/10)
• Registration Night (2/4)

Community Service Volunteering

NEW THIS YEAR!  Drive to Donate.  IOCP is looking for some summer help with the food shelf so we decided to do an early food drive for them

• Drive to Donate Sign Up
  • Two drop-off dates.  8/22/25 & 8/23/25.
  • Minimum of 30 non-perishable items dropped off at specified location.  Donation List Items.

Feed My Starving Children - Monday, November 12th, 2025 (Will open after first Mandatory Meeting)

• Feed My Starving Children Sign Up

Trick or Treat for Cans - October 31st & November 1st drop off times

• Trick or Treat for Cans Sign Up 
  • Minimum of 30 non-perishable items dropped off at specified location.  Donation List Items.

Winter Walk

• Winter Walk Sign Up
• Winter Walk Instructions & Permission Slip
• Winter Walk Donation Form

Parent Chaperone Volunteering

• District Parent Chaperones - Sunday, January 25th
• State Parent Chaperones - March 1-3

Parent Judge Volunteering

• District Judge Volunteers - Sunday, January 25th
• State Judge Volunteers - March 1-3
  • Please select Wayzata High School as referring school and email Paul Kimbler at paul.kimbler@wayzataschools.org and let him know you signed up after registering.

Minnesota Business Venture (MBV) Summer Camp
(Great Camp for future business students)

Clifton Larson Allen High School Internship Program
(Registration is open now)

DECA Stock Market Game Registration

Registration for the DECA stock market game must be submitted by a DECA advisor. No exceptions.

Email Mrs. Jacklitch with your team member names and email addresses by Wednesday, September 24th (returning members) or Friday, October 10th (new members) for her to set you up. Please allow 48-72 hours for set-up time as Mrs. Jacklitch will need to forward your information to DECA for them to set you up in their system.

DECA and the SIFMA Foundation are pleased to provide their members with the DECA Stock Market Game.

High School DECA Stock Market Game

Please view DECA's Stock Market Game Competition Guidelines to see guidelines and procedures.

Students must be DECA members to participate in the DECA Stock Market Game. No exceptions.

In the DECA Stock Market Game, teams of one to three DECA high school members work together to build and manage a high performing investment portfolio of stocks, bonds and mutual funds. The 25 teams in each DECA region with highest percentage growth compared to the S&P 500 are eligible to compete at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC), according to the Stock Market Game guidelines in the DECA Guide. Team members competing in the Stock Market Game event at ICDC may not compete in another ICDC event.

DECA Stock Market Game

Registration Deadline: All teams must email Mrs. Jacklitch by Wednesday, September 24, 3:30 p.m. CT (returning DECA members) or Friday, October 10th, 3:30 p.m. CT (new DECA members)

Competition Begins: Monday, September 8, 9:30 a.m. ET

Asset Diversification: Friday, October 24, 4 p.m. ET - Friday, December 5, 4 p.m. ET

Competition Ends: Friday, December 5, 4 p.m. ET

Portfolio Deletion: Monday, May 11, 2026

RESOURCES TO GET STARTED

• SMG Essentials Mini Lesson Videos on core financial literacy topics including introductions to investing, risk, diversification and more! All videos are three-six minutes long and include exit tickets.
• SMG Training Videos cover a trading portfolio overview, the rules of the game and information on how to enter trades.
• SMG Student Activity Packet is a perfect companion to the mini lesson videos and includes a financial terms glossary, fillable worksheets, and 101 introductions for stocks, mutual funds and bonds.

DECA Virtual Business Online Event Registration

After you have registered your team, you must email Mr. Kimbler so he can activate your team.

DECA high school members will be able to participate in all eight tracks of this event - VBC Entrepreneurship, VBC Fashion, VBC Accounting, DECA Hotel Challenge, VBC Personal Finance, VBC Restaurant, VBC Retailing and VBC Sports. Each track encourages DECA members to test their skills within its particular Virtual Business environment – individually or as a team of up to 3 members.

Team registration begins on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

There are two qualifying rounds for each track of the event. All eight tracks will utilize online competition versions of our simulations for the first and second qualifying rounds. The online competition sims feature almost 100% of the functionality of the classroom simulation. Students who are currently using, or who have previously used one of our online simulations (Entrepreneurship, Fashion, Accounting, Hotel, Restaurant, Personal Finance, Retailing, Management or Sports and Entertainment) may use their existing accounts to participate. Students who have not used our online simulations will be given the opportunity to create a new account free of charge.

Team registration for this event will begin on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. There will be two rounds (Challenges) held via the Internet during the school year.

The first challenge round is:       October 14, 2025 - October 24, 2025
The second challenge round is:  January 13, 2026 - January 23, 2026

See Website for Accounting Mini-Challenge Date (Website)

For all eight tracks of the VBC, DECA will send certificates of recognition for the winners of each state to the appropriate state advisor so that winners may be recognized at the state level during individual state meetings.

At the conclusion of the second round of the VBC for each of the eight tracks, the teams that qualified to compete in the live event at DECA's International Career Development Conference will be listed on the VBC rankings pages. These teams must have their DECA advisor confirm their attendance and participation in this event by emailing vbccentral@knowledgematters.com, or by calling (413) 587-9917. Prior to confirming a team, the DECA advisor must notify and gain approval from their state advisor for the team to participate in the VBC event at the ICDC. To ensure a 16-team field for all tracks for ICDC, advisors must confirm their teams on or before March 6, 2026.

Competition sessions at DECA's International Career Development Conference will be held LIVE in the exhibit hall. Unlike the qualifying rounds, competition sessions held at ICDC will be timed events. Scholarships will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners at ICDC.

Awards

First & Second Challenge: (Top two teams from each region)
· Recognition under the DECA area at www.KnowledgeMatters.com

1st Place: DECA's International Career Development Conference Champions
· $1,000/team ($5,000 for Hotel*)
· Recognition at the Grand Awards Ceremony at the ICDC, Plaque
· Recognition under the DECA area at www.KnowledgeMatters.com

2nd Place:
· $500/team ($2,000 for Hotel*)
· Recognition at the Grand Awards Ceremony at the ICDC
· Plaque

3rd Place:
· $250/team ($1,000 for Hotel*)
· Recognition at the Grand Awards Ceremony at the ICDC
· Plaque

* Awards for Hotel made possible by J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation

The DECA at the Bell Challenge is now open! You and your DECA friends have the chance to create your own episode of DECA at the Bell.

BusinessU has partnered with DECA Inc. to offer a national DECA at the Bell Challenge. For this challenge, students will write and produce their very own episode of DECA at the Bell. Creativity is encouraged; what matters most is the ability to engage the audience while connecting something in the world of business to the world of DECA.

This event is open to any registered high school DECA member who wants to sharpen their content creation skills by writing scripts, storyboarding, and producing videos. Each DECA chapter may submit up to two (2) entries.
 

Entries must be submitted before Oct. 31 at 6 p.m EDT.

Click here for Details!

https://www.deca.org/challenges

CHALLENGE TIMELINE

CHALLENGE DATES: October 15 - December 1

Registration Opens: October 15

Competition Ends: December 1

Email or Talk to Mr. Kimbler by Friday September 26th if you want to compete.  

How the Competition Works

AM Events: 

7:30 am - Judge Check In (B204 - 2nd Floor Forum Room - Main Entrance)
7:45 am - Judge Orientation
8:00 am - Judges to booths (gyms)
8:30 am - Presentations Start

Individual Series (Sports & Entertainment)
 - Sample role play (This is a previous years role play will not be this years - just a sample)

Team Decision Making (Buying & Merch, Entre, Finance, Hospitality, Marketing Mgmt, Sports, Travel)
- Sample role play (This is a previous years role play will not be this years - just a sample)

Judge Tips

PM Events:

12:15 pm - Judge Check In (B204 - 2nd Floor Forum Room - Main Entrance)
12:20 pm - Judges to booths (gyms)
12:45 pm - Presentations Start

International Business Plan

Professional Selling

Integrated Marketing Plan

Judge Tips

Chaperones:

Morning:     7:45 - 12:00 ish (Report to C122)
Afternoon: 12:00 - 4:30 ish (Report to C122)

Chaperone Instructions