RHS DECA dominates districts
DECA District competition was held in Wisconsin Rapids on January 8, 2016; 28 Rhinelander students competed against about 500 other students in the North-Central region of Wisconsin in numerous business-related fields. DECA competitions fall into one of four clusters: marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Within those clusters there are more specific events, like automotive services or accounting. Competitors studied throughout December to get the highest score, which consists of four aspects: an economics test, a career cluster test, and two role plays.
The economics test was taken before students went to Rapids and included a variety of 100 questions to count for a quarter of the score. Once at Rapids, students first took a career cluster test that related to the general event they were competing in (marketing, finance, hospitality, or management). For the other half of their score, students were given a ‘real-life’ situation which they had to try to work out in front of a judge (who is often a complaining customer, a business partner, or an employee).
Of the 28 students that competed at regionals, 12 individuals and three teams of two were awarded with a medal or plaque. Five students took first in their event: Faith Bartelt (Business Services), Alison Kubeny (Human Resources), Markus Johnson (Principles of Business Administration), and Ellen Padgett (Principles of Finance). Kubeny also won three medals, Padgett returned with two, and Johnson one. Max Holperin took 1st place in Economics, which was an event that all 500 competitors had to take online prior to going to Rapids.
The following 4 students earned 2nd in their event: Emily Ditzler (Hotel and Lodging), Max Holperin (Marketing Management), and team Taylor Trachte and Brianna DeNamur (Travel & Tourism). Ditzler took home three medals, Holperin brought back two, and the Tourism team received three.
One individual and two teams took 3rd in an event: Haley Sisel (Hotel & Lodging) not only finished with 3rd, but earned three medals doing so. Team Gunnar Millot and Jacob Piesecki also took 3rd place and three medals.
Rhinelander also had some Overall Series Finalists (OSF), meaning they placed between 4th and 10th in their events. Leah Schindeldecker was an OSF in Accounting, she also got a medal for her performance in a role play. Robert Ritchie was awarded medals for his rank in the economics and event tests, as well as being an OSF in Restaurant Management. Kim Bilogan and Eva O’Melia were Overall Series Finalists in Hospitality. Abby Krueger competed in Principles of Hospitality and was an OSF. Luke Roberts earned a medal for one of his role plays in Sports & Entertainment Marketing.
Rhinelander High School has only been involved in DECA for two years, but already this year has brought home the most awards out of all the schools that competed. They competed in District 2, which includes high schools from Lakeland to Adams-Friendship. Rhinelander students will be going to State Competition in Lake Geneva March 8 – 10th, with a lot of studying in between. If you would like to assist in sending these students to competition or have any questions, please contact advisers Mischell Fryar or Pat Kubeny at 715-365-9500.
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