Photos submitted by Hamilton DECA.

Natalie Olson

In late April, 29 students from Hamilton attended DECA’s International Career Development Conference (ICDC) competition in Orlando, Florida. ICDC is an international competition for students. Over 24,000 high school students represented all 50 states and several other countries, including China, Canada, and Germany.

The majority of students complete their preliminary competition over two days. For series competitors, the first day consists of a 100-question exam, and the second is the role-play competition. The other option for competition is a project. Since half of the project is a written portion submitted before the conference, projects are presented on one day, and competitors receive a free day to follow. Students not participating in the competition attend their academies these days as well. Both series and project competitors may compete on a third day based on the results from the first two days of competition, which are announced at the first awards session. Finalists in each category are announced, which recognizes the top 20 in each event. Those students then compete in their event again that afternoon, before winning scores are calculated and announced at the final awards.

In total, the 29 Hamilton students competed across 20 different events. At awards, students represent their state or country instead of their school, which is a strong contrast to the previous competitions, which are school-focused. This year, Hamilton had a total of four students make it on stage. Two students moved on as finalists, and the other two received medals for their high achievements in their categories. To put that into perspective, over 100,000 members compete in DECA, and each event has roughly 225 competitors. This amount consists of the top competitors from over 50 states and a few countries. Of that, only the top 20 make it as a finalist.

Beyond just competing, ICDC gives students lots of chances to build job skills. At the conference, big companies and colleges set up booths where students can talk to reps about internships, scholarships, and upcoming opportunities. Many companies also create hands-on activities that help students connect better with their businesses. These are great for making contacts and checking out options for college or future jobs. Students can collect business cards, ask questions about different career paths, and even sign up for follow-up information. Some businesses offer on-the-spot interviews for summer positions, while colleges provide materials about their business programs and campus life. The expo area buzzes with energy as students in professional attire navigate from booth to booth, gathering information that could shape their futures.

The conference also makes sure students have fun. On the first day, DECA provides buses to Universal so students can enjoy the parks before competition gets serious. After competition days, there are chances to visit Disney or other parks too. They also have entertainment during opening and closing events—this year featuring amazing trampoline jumpers at the opening. These activities help students grow, make friends, and lower stress, so they can enjoy the conference instead of feeling anxious the whole time. Many students take this time to explore attractions together and create memories outside the competitive environment. The mix of professional development and entertainment gives everyone a chance to recharge and approach their events with fresh energy. Even advisors join in, sometimes planning chapter dinners or outings where all members can relax together before the intensity of competition day.

Every year, all students get cool items from their state. Wisconsin DECA gave each student three Croc pins with Culver's and Bucks decorations, plus the yearly DECA pin. Students also got a cowbell and a light-up lightsaber, which were surprise gifts, at the state meeting before the opening event. Students use these items to trade with people from other states. Hats and t-shirts are really popular and can even sell for up to $100. Trading gives students an easy way to start talking with people they don't know. It can be hard to talk to strangers, but DECA helps students connect with each other and build friendships that last. The trading tradition has been going on for decades, with some items becoming legendary in DECA history. Students often display their traded pins on lanyards or special collection boards, showing off the states they've connected with. Some chapters even develop strategies for trading, with certain members specializing in getting the most sought-after items from other regions. By the end of the conference, students' collections serve as physical reminders of the nationwide community they've become part of.

This year, Hamilton had four students make it on the ICDC stage. Congratulations to Vihaan Kulkarni, Elise Davidson, Cameron Schilling, and Alex Ghere. Cameron received a medal for his high achievement in his test while Vihaan received a medal for his success in his role play presentation. Elise and Alex moved on as finalists and had the opportunity to compete again for the top spots. At the final awards ceremony, Alex Ghere made it on stage again to be recognized as a top 10 competitor. Amazing work, all!

Another important recognition goes to Hamilton’s state officers, Olivia Thames and Aanya Ranasaria. During ICDC, Olivia and Aanya spent most of their time with the state team representing Wisconsin leadership. Olivia and Aanya were part of a team of seven who ran the state delegation meeting with nearly 800 Wisconsin DECA competitors. They also had the opportunity to vote for our regional president, who represents the entire Midwest region of DECA as well as the organization's President. Thank you, Olivia and Aanya, for ensuring that the organization has strong leaders!

Finally, this ICDC was special for many reasons that may differ from student to student. Some students took the time to reflect on their time at ICDC and what DECA means to them overall. When asked about her experiences, sophomore finalist Elise Davidson reports, “I think DECA has helped me find my place at Hamilton. I feel more confident about my future now.

Similarly, sophomore competitor Dylan Frankovis claims, ”I had an amazing time at ICDC. It's great that I get to compete in a category that I am passionate about and also hang out with friends. Overall, it's a super beneficial trip.”

Congratulations competitors! Remember to work hard every day, and I wish you all the best next year! Good luck!