Students from Grapevine High School, Colleyville High School, and iUniversity Prep attended the Texas State Career Development conference at the Dallas Anatole. With over 300 DECA chapters and a total membership of over 23,000 members, Texas takes the cake for the largest DECA association in the world. GCISD has 10 students advancing to the International Career Development Conference in Florida at the end of April where there will be 25,000 people in attendance and around 10,000 competitors.
For many students, State CDC was more than just a competition, it was a transformational experience.
Afrah, a competitor from iUniversity Prep shared “State was such an amazing experience! Getting to compete alongside so many passionate and driven students really pushed me to do my best,”
Mali, another student representative, reflected on the deeper connections she made during the conference: “State was truly an incredible experience, and I was so honored to be able to represent our chapter as one of the voting delegates. I met so many great people while networking, but most importantly, I bonded even closer with our members and created memories I’ll never forget.”
For some, like Kai, the competitive spirit of the event was especially motivating. “State CDC was so much fun! Seeing students from this school come together was amazing, and competing was great. The competition really gets people into the mindset of working harder—you don’t want to lose! But it’s a good kind of competition, and it prepares you for the real world.”
Their testimonials reflect the diverse yet shared impact of attending State CDC. Each student walked away with something uniquely valuable from this event. Whether it was the adrenaline of competition, the growth that comes from stepping out of your comfort zone, or the deep sense of connection and community, every experience painted a vivid picture of what makes DECA so special. From developing real-world skills to forming lasting friendships, State is more than just a competition, it’s a celebration of ambition, leadership, and personal growth! A truly incredible experience that we will all remember!
Want to be part of the next unforgettable DECA adventure? Message Ms. Province on Google Chat to learn how you can get involved!
