CONTACT: JIM MORRIS |
Vol. 42, No. 77
November 19, 2008
Missouri DECA to Host Regional Conference in KC this Weekend
Students from 12 States Will Convene to Focus on Entrepreneurship & Careers
More than 2,000 high school DECA members with an interest in marketing, management and entrepreneurship will “define their lives” at an action-packed student conference this weekend (Nov. 21-23) in Kansas City, Mo.
“DECA - High Definition” is the theme of the 12-state Central Region Leadership Conference that starts Friday at the Westin Crown Center. Global Entrepreneurship Week will take center stage during the annual event which promotes leadership and professional development, competitive events for students, and a career fair.
“Missouri DECA is excited to serve as the host for our central region,” said Christopher Young, Missouri DECA state advisor. “DECA’s leadership conference activities are designed to encourage innovation, creativity and imagination from our future leaders in marketing, management and entrepreneurship.”
Planned by the Missouri DECA State Action Team, the conference will be attended by high school students from Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
“We will help students connect the classroom to college opportunities, career possibilities and corporate professionals,” Young said. Students will participate in sessions that will focus on leadership development, civic consciousness, social intelligence and competitive excellence.
A Missouri student will play a key role in the conference proceedings. Isaac Robinson III, a 2008 graduate of McCluer North High School, in the Ferguson-Florissant School District (St. Louis County) was elected earlier this year as a national officer of DECA. He currently serves as vice president for the central region and will help lead the conference.
The event enjoys significant corporate support to help students learn about careers and postsecondary educational opportunities, Young said. More than 40 notable industry professionals are participating in the program, including National DECA Advisory Board Chair Mike Marchetti and a number of Missouri DECA alumni. The Kauffman Foundation of Entrepreneurship and the McKelvey Foundation are key sponsors of the event.
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DECA is an international association of high school students studying marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality and marketing sales and service. DECA has over 190,000 members in five divisions: high school, Delta Epsilon Chi, collegiate, alumni and professional.
Membership in Missouri DECA is open to students who are currently enrolled in an approved marketing and cooperative education course. With more than 9,600 members in 150 high schools across the state, Missouri DECA receives distinction as the fifth largest state association in the international organization.