Alumni

How did DECA affect you?

MLK DECA was a community that I needed as I came to high school knowing nobody. The organization helped me make relationships with numerous people that I still keep in touch with regularly. While serving as the chapter treasurer and later as the VP of Administration, I became more vocal in my opinions and more receptive to criticism. Through competition, I grasped many different business concepts and became much more interested in what business has to offer, which is why I'm pursuing this in higher education. 

What was your favorite part of DECA?

The conferences. These were the times when I could get to know my friends even closer because I was rooming with them, and this is a big reason why I'm still close to my DECA friends today. I also love to travel, and the conferences allowed me to see many different places during our stays. Additionally, winning 4th place in the Business Solutions Project at the 2023 ICDC and then 4th place in the Financial Literacy Project at the 2024 ICDC made my time in MLK DECA even more memorable. 

Shreyash was a part of the Class of 2024 and was a 4 year DECA member, serving as our Vice President of Administration! After high school, he attended UC Berkeley to major in both Bioengineering and Business Administration where he is taking a MET program!

How did DECA affect you?

DECA provided me the opportunity to develop my communication and leadership skills while helping me explore potential business pathways. I learned to be a good speaker and leader. 

What was your favorite part of DECA?

My favorite part of DECA was getting to connect with a variety of people across DECA. I also loved getting to spend time traveling with my friends. 

Tanu was a part of the Class of 2024 and was a 4 year DECA member, serving as our Vice President of Competition! After high school, she attended UCLA to major in neuroscience!

Being involved in DECA through high school has helped me in so many ways, both professionally and personally. Professionally, I have learned interview and public speaking skills that help me now, in college, secure internships and positions that I am applying for. I am certain that without my experience in DECA I wouldn’t be where I am today. But DECA isn’t all business. It helped me personally too. I made some of the strongest friendships that I will cherish forever, and that do last past high school. (My Co-President was my college roommate!). One of the best memories I have is the International Competition my senior year, when we traveled to Orlando. It was so exciting to be able to travel with my best friends, and go to places like DisneyWorld and Universal Studios. I know that you guys will have similar amazing experiences if you join, so I would greatly recommend! 

Joining DECA my freshman year was one of the best decisions I made in high school! I met so many diverse individuals from across the world and learned from their experiences and backgrounds. I will always remember going to the International conferences in Nashville, Tennessee and Orlando, Florida. Competing in these competitions and visiting these amazing cities, allowed me to form connections with other like minded individuals and experience different cultures through traveling. One of my favorite experiences was when we biked around the city of Nashville and visited this restaurant with live music for dinner. I got to see so many different sightseeing locations and also live the true Nashville experience with the private concert! I still use the skills gained in DECA in my life today. From advancing my public speaking capabilities to networking with diverse individuals, my experiences in King DECA will always be cherished and remembered as I progress in the future! Join DECA, you won’t regret it! 

​Ever since I joined DECA as a freshman, I knew that this was the club for me. I was introduced to the world of Hospitality and Marketing and immediately fell in love with it. Through the guidance of the Officers and Advisors, I gained skills in leadership, networking, and management that gave me a head start in college. No matter what career you pursue these are important life skills that will carry with you. In DECA I made many unforgettable memories that I still cherish today such as going to ICDC and meeting competitors from different states to running around Downtown Disney with my fellow members. My overall experience in the club had been socially and academically enriching. I’m grateful for all the experiences and relationships I’ve made over the years. 

DECA was a really great experience for me in high school! Although I didn’t plan on going into business as a career, it helped me work on different skills that are widely used in the work place. This included going in for interviews, networking, problem solving, and team building. As the resident “shy kid”, this really allowed me to build my confidence and work on my public-speaking fears with the help of my peers and our wonderful advisor, Mrs. Blue.  So, I say grab a friend and join DECA! 

How did DECA affect you?

I loved DECA. Each one experience broadened my way of thinking. I came in close minded and left a leader that can incorporate other ideas.

What was your favorite part of DECA?

I loved the social aspect of talking with others. Whether that was all watching a game in the lobby with people you’ve never met before, kicking it back with your friends, or making new ones from across the world. 

Harman was a part of the Class of 2024 and was a 4 year DECA member! After high school, he attended RCC to apply for a transfer, deciding to major in economics, business administration or finance.