Just months ago, I attended our very first DECA event as the only member from IUP DECA. Today, we’re proud to celebrate being named one of the Top 10 New Chapters of the Year out of 61 new Texas DECA chapters, a testament to what passion, perseverance, and purpose can achieve.
This year, our chapter made incredible strides. We didn’t just grow, we thrived. We built a community of over 40 registered members who embraced every opportunity to engage, compete, and shine not only locally and statewide, but also internationally.
Along the way, we completed all three of the Texas Campaigns (Texas Two Step, Bring a Friend, Membership) and tackled three National Campaigns (Promotional, Community Service, Advocacy), raising awareness of DECA’s mission, giving back to our community, and amplifying student voices in and beyond our school. Part of one of those campaigns was the We Can Food Drive, where we donated a total of 335 cans equaling to 257 lbs of food! Additionally, this year we were able to raise around $3,750 with SnapRaise for our club!
Competitive highlights include:
20 district competitors, of whom 7 emerged as district champions: Afrah Mohammed, Amshu Reddy Vemula, Jaxson McBride, Julia Thienvanich, Kai Jimenez, Priso Ndumbe, and Tia Olatunji.
7 students advanced to the Texas Career Development Conference, with Julia Thienvanich earning the distinction of state finalist and moving on to the International Career Development in Orlando, Florida.
2 shining at ICDC: Mali Xayavong at the Elevate Academy and Julia Thienvanich in the Entrepreneurship Individual Role Play event.
On top of those achievements, we’re especially proud of individual honors: Reyna Daniels placed 4th in the Spring Case Study Challenge, and Jaxson McBride was awarded the $2,500 CJ Knipper Memorial Scholarship, which celebrates students who exemplify character, leadership, school spirit, and community commitment.
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Afrah Mohammed and Mali Xayavong, our chapter now has an official IUP DECA website! It showcases our achievements, officer team, event highlights, photos, and more! Be sure to check it out: https://sites.google.com/view/iupdeca?usp=sharing
Our journey has never been just about competition. It’s about creating a space for students to grow in confidence, build upon their skills, and find their passion. As one of the smallest chapters in size, we’ve proven that impact doesn’t depend on numbers, it depends on heart.
This year’s story from having only one person at our first DECA event to being one of Texas DECA’s Top 10 New Chapters is only the beginning. We may be a small team, but we have a big dream, and we’re just getting started!
If you are interested in joining the fun, please message Ms. Province on Google Chat!
