DECA of Perrysburg High School
Sophie Staats
eSomethin Staff
Recently Perrysburg High School’s DECA class took a trip to Owens Community College for their first competition of the year.

Travis Enos, Seattle Peppers, and Ross Hartenberg Photo; Perrysburg DECA Twitter
DECA is a course that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, hospitality, management, and finance. Students can learn many business skills that will help them with their future in the business world.
On September 28th, students in DECA competed against each other using their business abilities. Before the competition, DECA students are put into groups and they each get a certain category. Groups then receive a case study which states the problem for their category. Owens was where each group of DECA students had the chance to present their business based plan that fits their category. They are then scored on who had the best presentation.
When Perrysburg’s DECA teacher, Mrs. Byrd, was asked how Perrysburg had done, her response was the following:

Taylor Eureste, Kyle Elmer, and Andrew Hansen Photo; Perrysburg DECA Twitter
“Perrysburg DECA did a great job of representing the chapter. For a total, we took 90 students to competition and they did a really good job for their very first competition. Juniors, I believe, over 75% of the juniors came back with a trophy. So that is really great for their first competition, and I think they had a good time.”
As said, Perrysburg DECA celebrated many accomplishments Wednesday. Mrs. Byrd and all of the students were very proud. Especially one student, T.J. Hicks. He responded, “The competition was really fun and I was really nervous at first. I had the hospitality and terrorism category that I had to compete in, with my partners Jacob Cady and Callie Kaczala. We presented our business proposal and we placed 5th. We went home with a trophy.”
Many other students went home with trophies. Some of these students include Seattle Peppers, Ross Hartenberg, Travis Enos, Taylor Eureste, Kyle Elmer, Andrew Hansen, Ethan Fleming, Hailey Johnson, Jackson Klusmeyer, and much more (pictures at the bottom).

Jacob Cady, Callie Kaczala, and T.J. Hicks PhotoPerrysburg DECA Twitter
Overall, DECA is a great opportunity for Perrysburg students. According to Mrs. Byrd, “DECA is an awesome opportunity DECA is an awesome opportunity for students to get out of the classroom and to practice things that we hope they can get out of a classroom, but sometimes just can’t.” DECA is not just all about marketing and business, but it also helps students with leadership development, interacting with adults in a professional setting, interviewing, and problem-solving skills. DECA is just another amazing opportunity that students of Perrysburg High School should be aware of .

Ethan Fleming, Hailey Johnson, and Jackson Klusmeyer Photo; Perrysburg DECA Twitter
Other posts by Sophie Staats:
- Opinion: “13 Reasons Why” Producers Should be Questioned
- Blood Drive, Save Lives
- Watch it Again: Undercover Boss and “The Jacket Way”
- Commentary: “Monkeying Around”
- DECA of Perrysburg High School
- October Cider Recipe
- Anti-bullying Speaker Jodee Blanco Provokes Mixed Reaction