Westonka DECA Students Shine at State, Pack Bags for Nationals

By Lorrie Ham

A total of 37 students will represent the Mound Westonka DECA chapter at the national competition in Salt Lake City, UT, this spring. That number represents the most students of any of the 63 schools in the State of Minnesota with DECA chapters.

Westonka took 91 high school students to the state DECA competition this year at the Minneapolis Hyatt Regency on March 4-6. Westonka was entered in 41 of the 47 events run at the state level. The top 12 students advanced to the final round in each DECA category. Westonka advanced 56 students/groups to the finals in 26 of the 47 categories.  

Several students qualified in multiple events.

"As a club we feel very fortunate to have experienced such success at the State DECA Conference,” said advisor Steph Lolich. “As advisors we are so proud of our students because of the countless hours they dedicated to their competitive events and because of the relationships they established with local businesses that allowed for higher caliber projects. We can't thank the community enough for their involvement in our program. Without the assistance of our local business leaders our program wouldn't be as successful."

To help the team meet expenses for the upcoming nationals, the club will be sponsoring a DECA Bingo Night at Mound Westonka High School Cafeteria on Thursday, March 29, from 5-7:30 p.m. For $10 guests will be treated to hot dogs, chips, cookies, soda and approximately two hours of bingo. Prizes will be awarded to Bingo winners. The evening will also feature a silent auction. All International projects will also be on hand so attendees can catch a glimpse of the competitive world of DECA.

The following students/teams advanced to the state finals and the 37 students marked with an asterisk (*) are headed to nationals in Salt Lake City April 28–May 2.

In the Written Papers category:

Advertising Campaign Paper:

• Alaina Meese and Ellie Kalgren – 1st place*
• Hannah Berg, Paige Beyer and Kelly O’Brien – 2nd place*
• Kayla Schultz and Connor Murphy – 3rd place*
• Kyle Hoogeveen, Emmanuel Akosa and David Bingham – top 8 and John Hunt – top 12

Sports & Entertainment Operations Research Project:

• Brenna Mack and Callie Mack – 1st place*
• Mitch Kern and Connor Sir – 2nd place*

Hospitality & Tourism Operations Research Project:

• Connor Hanson and Spencer Smith – 2nd place*

Financial Literacy Chapter Project

• Will Griffith, Adam Sjoquist and Blake Brandstetter – 2nd place*

Learn and Earn Chapter Project:

• Alex Riffle and Courtney Simonson – 2nd place*

Creative Marketing Chapter Project:

• Katie Jo Delisle, Walter Lewis and Evan Bailey – 3rd place*

Public Relations Chapter Project:

• Matt Hejna, Willie Maahs and Katie Rasmussen – top 8
• Entrepreneurship Participating Written Paper:
• Emma Clifford – top 8
• International Business Plan Paper:
• Ashley Rosenberg and Jenni Golden – top 8*
• Brooke Berger and Katie Rasmussen – top 12
• Niko Bame - top 12
• Randy Bernal and Drew Davis – top 12

Fashion Merchandising Promotion Plan:

• Kia Johnson, Maya Reinholdz and Kaitlyn Tierney – 1st place*

Sports and Entertainment Promotion Plan:

• Luke Loken and Alek Weltin – top 8
• Alicia Martin-Vega and Joey Leenay – top 12

Hospitality & Tourism Professional Selling:

• Trevor Omann – top 8

In the Role Play category

Quick Serve Role Play:

• Spencer Smith – 1st place*

Marketing Management Role Play:

• Joey Leenay – 2nd place *

Restaurant and Food Service Role Play:

• Katie Eikenberry – 4th place*

Hotel & Lodging Management Role Play:

• Paige Beyer – top 8
• Trevor Omann – top 8

Business Services Marketing Role Play:

• Zach Holloway – top 12

Sports and Entertainment Team Role Play:

• Connor Hanson and Brenna Mack – 1st place*
• Willie Maahs and David Hughes – top 8
• Andy Seats & Kyle Luehmann – top 12

Hospitality Services Team Role Play:

• Kaitlyn Tierney and Kia Johnson – 3rd place*
• Adam Sjoquist and Nate Baskfield – 4th place*
• Lexi Christopulos and Courtney Hallowell – top 12.

Buying and Merchandising Team Role Play:

• Connor Sir and Drew Davis – 2nd place*
• Nick Battis and Brock Locker –3rd place*
• Alek Weltin and Luke Loken – 4th place*
• Niko Bame and Connor Murphy – top 8

Marketing and Communication Team Role Play:

• Ellie Kalgren and Hannah Berg – 2nd place*
• John Hunt and Katie Rasmussen – top 12
• Ashley Rosenberg and Jenni Golden – top 12

Travel & Tourism Team Role Play:

• Alaina Meese and Maya Reinholdz – 1st place*
• Abe Thaler and Kelsey Kern – 2nd place*

In State Only Events

Public Speaking:

• Kaithlyn Tierney – top 8

Economics in Marketing:

• Dominik Bame – top 12

Sales Demo – Soft Sales:

• Val Schoenecker – top 12
• Alex Riffle – top 8

Sales Demo – Business to Business:

• Connor Murphy – top 12

Top test score medals went to Spencer Smith, Katie Eikenberry, Maya Reinholdz, Alaina Meese, Connor Murphy, Connor Hanson, Katie Rassmussen, Hannah Berg, Luke Loken, Kyle Luehmann, Nick Battis and John Hunt.

Kaitlyn Tierney was named the Minnesota DECA Marketing Student of the year. Kaitlyn was nominated for this award by the three DECA advisors. Chosen as the one student (out of 3,000 Minnesota DECA members) to receive this honor, Kaitlyn earns a $500 scholarship.

Lead MWHS DECA advisor Stephanie Lolich received the Rookie Marketing Teacher of the Year Award. The Mound Westonka Business Department nominated Lolich, for this award.  

“Steph has built a marketing program at Mound Westonka High School that prides itself on rigor and real world experiences,” reads an excerpt from her nomination form. “She is constantly talking about the new elements she is adding to the program, ‘because it will add credibility and the students are going to need this for their careers.’”  

Lolich has used this same commitment to grow the Mound Westonka DECA Chapter from 39 members in 2008 to 110 members in 2012.