Last Friday morning the Taylorsville Redwood Campus was host to the 2011 Utah Collegiate DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) State Career Development Conference. Partnered with SLCC’s chapter of Collegiate DECA, the College welcomed Collegiate DECA members from colleges and universities from across the state.
The Utah State Career Development Conference is a competition with events where business students are judged on how they develop solutions to a business situation. For example, students that are competing in the category of hospitality are given a hospitality situation to solve. They are then judged on how they would resolve the situation.
“We’re a rebuilt group, we have four students competing. We are as prepared as well as we can be,” said Liz Olsen, University of Utah Chapter President.
“I’m excited, this is my first time competing. I don’t know what to expect but I’m excited for it,” said Coty Pitcher, Dixie State Business Administration student.
There are a total of 19 events. Students register to compete in chosen events. Students who score in the top three are recognized for each event. The top ranking students will go to the International Conference in Orlando, Florida in April.
“I did hospitality this morning. I think I did pretty well,” Jared Egget of Southern Utah University said.
“It’s my first time, I feel confident I did fine,” said SLCC Marketing student Chris Byers.
The conference began with an opening ceremony in room 203 of the Technology Building. One of the speakers was Curtis Youngman, State Advisor, national board member, and SLCC Marketing Professor.
“This organization is a successful one,” Youngman said.
The keynote speaker, Tim Border, gave a motivational speech that included a card trick done with poster-sized playing cards.
“I’m seeing people who are prepared for the future,” Border said.
Border said the key to a successful future is, “take goals seriously, network continuously, and execute measurably.”
After the opening ceremony students went to the student center for their assigned events.
While the business events were underway, the state officers did a community service project. They were cutting and tying the ends of blankets for Primary Children’s Hospital and The Road Home, a shelter for homeless families.
“State officers do a service project every year,” said Emily Dziatlik, State Vice-President of Communication and SLCC student.
On Saturday a rewards dinner was held in the Oak Room of the Student Center. The presentation ceremony was held earlier than scheduled due to the weather. This was so the southern Utah schools could return home safely. Special guests at the dinner were Senator Waddoups, Senate President, and Anna Kay Waddoups, SLCC Board of Trustees member.
The first award presented was the DECA Diamond Award, which is the highest honor given to an individual who has given extraordinary service to the organization. This year the recipient was Colleen Vawdrey of Utah Valley University.
Salt Lake Community College was rewarded by having nine students awarded for their efforts in the competition. Karen Jorgensen won first place for Marketing Management, Crystle Rosales won second place for Entrepreneurship, Kate Conrow secured second place in the Sales Representative category, and Emily Dziatlik along with Russ Potter took first place in Ad Campaign with Landon Bowden and Adrien Covington coming in third. Dina Miranda placed 1st in Fashion Merchandising. There were also 10 SLCC students who placed as finalist or within the top six in their category.
Collegiate DECA is a national student association that has chapters in almost all of Utah colleges and universities. Salt Lake Community College has the largest chapter in the state with 50 students. They are hoping to double this number by next year.
Collegiate DECA is an international learning network for college students preparing for a variety of career areas. Collegiate DECA is currently active throughout the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
“I’m not only happy to be a vice-president, I’m just happy to be a part of it,” said Scott Dean, Vice President of Promotions DECA SLCC chapter.
Students can go to Collegiate DECA’s meetings each Monday at noon in room 222 in the Business Building for more information about Collegiate DECA and how to join.