Homecoming Week is coming up, and it’s time to kick off the school spirit with iUP DECA! From 3:00-6:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 17th, our school’s DECA chapter will host Field Day at Grapevine’s Lakeview Park. Come to meet with your friends, network with iUP clubs and students, and participate in community service!
Field Day’s Activities
First of all, Field Day will feature a “Soak a Senior” fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Founded in 1950, this nonprofit organization strives to empower individuals who suffer from or care for others with neuromuscular diseases through research, advanced patient care, advocacy, and family support (Hesterlee, n.d.). As for this fundraiser, DECA’s goal is to raise $400.00 or more to lend a helping hand to their mission, so all proceeds will be donated to MDA. On October 17th, Owls can donate money through cash or RevTrak on a tiered scale, where bigger donations come with more water to soak participating iUP seniors. Specifically, a cup costs $1.00, a bowl costs $5.00, a bucket goes for $10.00, and extra ice is an additional $2.00 donation. So far, four lucky seniors have confirmed to participate in the soak, and any attending seniors may volunteer to join the fun and support MDA!
Secondly, this location, Lakeview Park, may seem familiar. In the past, Wisely’s Parliament and iUP DECA have hosted (and continue to host) community clean up events at this location. In continuation of this tradition, Field Day will feature a community clean up competition. Individual students and teams of up to 5 participants will collect any trash they find at the park, and those who have the fullest trash bags will be awarded a small prize for their service. At this event, trash bags, gloves, trash grabbers, water, hand sanitizer, and snacks will be provided.
Last but not least, participating iUP clubs will be hosting their own activities throughout the event. For instance, iHoot will be hosting a Halloween-themed relay race. Teams of participants will line up one-by-one to collect words from a bucket, rush back to their table, and compete to complete a themed phrase. The team that finishes their phrases the fastest will also win a small prize, like candy. Furthermore, the iUP e-Sports Club will be setting up a station at the park for students to compete in video games!
Benefits for Students
However, beyond these activities lies deeper meaning. iUP DECA President Mali Xayavong and Vice President Yadiz Martinez—a senior who will be getting soaked on Saturday—cite the social and club networking opportunities available at this event, as many unique clubs will be collaborating to make it a success. Similarly, Field Day serves as a great opportunity to learn what these different clubs are about, what they are doing, and if you would like to join them.
Possibly the most attractive perks of this meet up are the community service opportunities. Besides supporting their community, by participating in the park clean up activity, students can earn service hours for Science National Honor Society, National Honor Society, and more. Additionally, students who volunteer to help set up, clean up, or get soaked (available to seniors) during the “Soak a Senior” portion of the event also earn service hours, which may be logged for NHS.
Conclusion
Whether you’re most excited to compete with your peers, team-build, hang out with your friends, or volunteer for the community, DECA’s Field Day will be a fun-filled event for any Owl attending. Make sure to Mrs. Province with any questions!
References
Hesterlee, Sharon. Muscular Dystrophy Association. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2026, from Muscular Dystrophy Association website: https://www.mda.org
