SHS DECA places in 21 Events at State Conference, Qualifies 13 for International Conference

SHS DECA places in 21 Events at State Conference, Qualifies 13 for International Conference
Posted on 04/04/2025

Over seven hundred students from 31 DECA Chapters competed at the Nebraska State Career Development Conference in Lincoln on March 19th & 20th.  Forty students from the Scottsbluff DECA Chapter qualified to attend the conference, held at the Cornhusker Hotel.  Students competed in a variety of events from written tests and judged role plays to written marketing research projects, advertising campaigns, entrepreneurship projects as well as team management decision making competitions.  Students who placed in the top three in an event qualified for the International DECA Career Development Conference to be held in Orlando, Florida on April 26-April 29, 2025.


Scottsbluff DECA enjoyed another successful year, placing in 21 events and auto-qualifying 9 members for the International Conference in Anaheim. Thirteen total qualifiers will compete at the conference in Orlando this year. The top 3 winners/auto-qualifiers and their events are as follows:


Marissa Haun – Hospitality & Tourism Professional Selling– 1st place

Emma Marks – Integrated Marketing Campaign-Product – 1st place

Heidi Groskopf – Professional Selling Event – 2nd place

Maci Dorshorst – Personal Financial Literacy – 3rd place

Marissa Haun – Food Services Marketing – 2nd place

Addie Peck – Restaurant & Food Service Management – 2nd place


Several other members placed in the top 8 in their respective role-play events which earned them a medal and the possibility of qualifying for the International Conference. Members who placed in the top 4 for written events did not receive a medal but were able to qualify for the International Conference.


Cameron Figg – Apparel & Accessories Marketing – Medalist

Amalie Gutierrez – Apparel & Accessories Marketing – Medalist

Emma Marks – Accounting – Medalist

Natalie Larsen – Business Services Marketing – Medalist

Bianca McDonald – Business Services Marketing – Medalist

Amalie Gutierrez & Emme Hilyard – Integrated Marketing Campaign-Event – 3rd place

Mia Sutton – Business Solutions – 4th place

Maci Dorshorst, Cadence Hauschild, & Hannah Shaddick – Sales Project – 3rd place

Hannah Gieck – Professional Selling – 3rd place

Bianca McDonald – Professional Selling – 4th place

Oliver Carpenter – Sports & Entertainment Marketing – Medalist


More notable achievements include: Natalie Larsen, Emme Hilyard, and Hannah Gieck earned Gold-Level Re-Certification for the Cat Shack (DECA school store) and several members placed top 3 in either their exam or one of the role plays.