DECA sends 40 students to state

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Faribault High School’s DECA program sent 75 students to Friday’s District 1 event in Owatonna and 40 advanced to the state competition.

Among those students, Madelyn Wehe and Erica Johnsrud won gold medals for their integrated marketing plan and 16 other Faribault students earned runner-up honors.

About 400 students from Owatonna, Mankato East, Mankato West, Northfield, Austin, Waseca, Pine Island and Sibley East joined Faribault at the event.

"Faribault DECA students represented themselves well both professionally and in performance. We have a really young team this year, so winning 31 medals and advancing 40 to state is a huge accomplishment for us,” Faribault DECA advisor Jared Kegler said. “I was a little nervous that our youth and inexperience was going to catch up with us, but we didn't skip a beat from previous years. I'm proud of how hard our students work and how much it means to them to do well. It was important for them to carry on our tradition of excellence from the last several years and they accomplished that goal.”

Kegler said his students’ success was a product of their preparation and hard work, as well as the efforts of his staff.

“They came in before school, during homeroom, after school, weekend work days, and attended our professional mentor nights. The fun thing for the advisors is how you can physically see students becoming more confident and sure of themselves with each event they do. Many of them are already talking about what events they want to do next year,” he said. “My assistants, Kevin Dunnigan, Erika Frear, and Sarah Simon, do a great job going the extra mile to help provide the students with event preparation, tips on how to dress, and how to act professionally."

DECA is an international association of high school and college students and teachers of marketing, management, and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality, and marketing sales and service. The organization prepares leaders and entrepreneurs for careers and education in marketing, finance, hospitality, management, and other business areas.