2018 District Career Development Conference

 

This past Sunday and Monday, members of Coon Rapids DECA competed at the MN District 4 West Career Development Conference in Plymouth.  Among the 48 DECA members that attended, there were 38 students that qualified for state in at least one event!  Some of the highlights at the conference included 67 overall finalists and 20 first, second, and third place finishers for Coon Rapids High School. 

 

Congratulations to Brynn Nguyen, Ellen Leciejewski, Maryann Milless, Maddy Gast, and Willimae Cooper who each took home first place finishes.  A big congratulation goes out to Brynn Nguyen, Julia Beczkalo, Ellen Leciejewski, and Salam Hijazi who qualified for state in all three of their events.  A special recognition goes to Andrew Stromquist who earned a top twenty-five test score at the conference.

 

These students will be competing in March at the DECA Minnesota State Career Development conference, for the right to represent Minnesota DECA at the International Career Development Conference this April in Atlanta, Georgia.  

 

All the DECA members who attended should be applauded for their excellent showing.  Lastly, Mr. Bodenburg would like to thank all the DECA members who attended the District 4 West competition for their respectful and professional behavior at the conference; you truly represented yourselves with class and dignity. Thank you and congratulations!

 

 

2018 State Career Development Conference

 

1^st Row:                  Ellen Leciejewski, Abby Olson, Victoria Jackson, Julia Beczkalo, Bryce Kelley, Maddy Gast, Emily Holloway

2^nd Row:                 Blake Bodenburg, Jesus Genius, Ryan Kemp, Thomas Rupert, Jeffrey Smith, Logan Severson, Andrew Stromquist

3^rd Row:                 Rylee Turner, Sarah Abbas, Callie Eckert, Megan Cosman, Rain Ulen, Salam Hijazi, Brynn Nguyen, Maryann Milless

 

On March 4, 5, and 6th at the DECA State Career Development Conference in Minneapolis, Coon Rapids DECA had a wonderful showing. Some of the highlights of the State DECA Conference included 10^th place finish for Julia Beczkalo, Brynn Nguyen, and Salam Hijazi in the Learn and Earn project.  A 9^th place finish for Ellen Leciejewski and Brynn Nguyen in the Gold Chapter Project, and Julia Beczkalo in Professional Selling. An 8^th place finish for Bryce Kelley in General Lines Sales Demonstration.  Junior, Ryan Kemp took 5^th in Professional Selling. A 2^nd place finish for sophomore, Sara Abbas in Financial Consulting. And not to be outdone, Sophomore, Brynn Nguyen took home 1st place in Professional Selling. Overall, Coon Rapids had 17 state finalists in their individual or team events.

 

In addition to all the top finishes, the Coon Rapids chapter was acknowledged as one of two chapters in the state to earn the distinct Achievement Level on all four national DECA chapter campaigns.  The campaigns include the Membership Campaign, the Global Entrepreneurship Campaign, the Promotional Campaign, and the Community Service Campaign.  Amidst the 1,996 competitors Jeff Smith and Sara Abbas stood out by earning the top 25 test scores on their comprehensive exams.

 

Other highlights of the conference were when Thomas Rupert and Jeff Smith were named Coon Rapids High School’s Outstanding DECA Members of the Year.  Julia Beczkalo and Brynn Nguyen earned the Minnesota DECA Speakers Bureau Awards, for their work this year in speaking in promotion of business and marketing education to their larger community.

 

Along with all the student successes, advisor Blake Bodenburg was honored to be named as one of six Minnesota Secondary DECA Outstanding Advisors at the conference.

 

In addition to all the top finishes, recognitions, and awards Brynn Nguyen, Sara Abbas, Ellen Leciejewski, Ryan Kemp and the national chapter campaign members of Rylee Turner, Megan Cosman, and Salam Hijazi all qualified to attend this spring’s International Career Development Competition in Atlanta, Georgia.  At this conference Coon Rapids will be competing with close to 20,000 other marketing competitors from around the world in an extremely competitive international field. 

 

Last but not least, Mr. Bodenburg would like to say thank-you to all the DECA members that competed in the state conference; you represented Coon Rapids and yourselves with dignity and class.  Congratulations to all!

 

2018 International Conference Attendees Atlanta, Georgia

 

Sara Abbas:                  Financial Consulting

Brynn Nguyen:              Professional Selling

Ryan Kemp:                  Gold Chapter, Ignite Academy

Ellen Leciejewski           Gold Chapter, Ignite Academy

Rylee Turner:                Chapter Community Service/Promotional/Global Entrepreneurship/and Membership Campaigns, Thrive Academy

Megan Cosman:            Chapter Community Service/Promotional/Global Entrepreneurship/and Membership Campaigns, Thrive Academy

Salam Hijazi:                 Chapter Community Service/Promotional/Global Entrepreneurship/and Membership Campaigns, Thrive Academy