News Release

May 8, 2024

Nebraska DECA International Award Winners Named

230 Nebraska students, advisors, and guests recently attended the 2024 DECA International Career Development Conference in Anaheim, California. Nebraska DECA High School members competed and participated in leadership academies April 27- April 30 in 59 competitive events. More than 23,000 DECA members from 50 states, as well as U.S. territories and international chapters, attended the conference. This marked the largest ICDC to date.
Students attended leadership academies with industry leaders, elected an executive student officer team, competed, and attended exclusive events at Disney and Universal Studios. The International Career Development Conference is the culmination of students’ hard work over the academic year and an opportunity to showcase the skills and knowledge gained in the classroom.

Nebraska 3rd place Winner:
Raylie Hollingsworth, Millard North High School, 3rd place in Finance Operations Research Event

Nebraska Top 10 Winners:
Devin Tran, Millard West High School, top 10 in Community Giving Project
Param Bhakta, Hastings High School, Top 10 in Entrepreneurship Series Event
Emily Schmucker, Millard North High School, Top 10 in Financial Literacy Project
Logan Pessini, Millard North High School, Top 10 in Sports and Entertainment Operations Research

Nebraska Event Finalists:

Wilson Dittman, Millard South High School, Finalist in Business Services Marketing
Akhil Bettadapura, Millard North High School, Finalist in Business Finance Series
Liana Koranda, Millard North High School, Finalist in Business Services Operations Research
Caleb Yeh, Millard North High School, Top Exam in Sports and Entertainment Team Decision Making
Copper Coler, Millard North High School, Top Exam in Personal Financial Literacy
Piper Zatechka, Westside High School, Top Roleplay in Principles of Marketing

Nebraska National Scholarship Recipients
Ella Daily, Millard South High School: Marriott Foundation Travel Scholarship
Nebraska Chapter Recognitions
Westside High School: recognized as the largest chapter in Nebraska
Gering High School: recognized as the largest membership percentage increase in Nebraska
Gold Certified School Based Enterprises
Millard South High School
Scottsbluff High School
Sidney High School
Westside High School
Thrive Level Campaign Winners
Burke High School Community Service Promotional
Central High School Community Service Promotional
Gering High School Community Service Promotional, Membership
Hastings Senior High School Community Service Promotional
Lincoln East High School Community Service Promotional
Millard North High School Community Service Promotional
Millard South High School Community Service Promotional
Millard West High School Community Service Promotional
Papillion LaVista South High School Community Service Promotional, Membership
Westside High School, Community Service, Promotional, Membership

Nebraska DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in the areas of marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges across the globe. DECA prepares the next generation to be academically prepared, community oriented, professional responsible, and experienced leaders. Nebraska DECA is supported through the Nebraska Center for Student Leadership and Expanded Learning at the Nebraska Department of Education. https://www.nedeca.org

---