2023 District 4 Career Development Conference

At the beginning of January Coon Rapids DECA competed at the MN District 4 Career Development Conference.  Among the 27 DECA members that attended the competition, there were 21 students that qualified for state in at least one event!  Some of the highlights at the conference included 32 overall team or individual finalists for Coon Rapids High School. 

Coon Rapids had 8 students who qualified for state in two of their events.  A special recognition goes to Madi Froslie, Edward Tabla, and Anna Kelley who will be participating in State in three events!

In addition to the state qualifiers, Jordanna Bradford, Madi Froslie, Madeleine Larson, Jon Pokrzywa, Josiah Ashworth, and Miranda Froslie all earned a top twenty-five exam 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 in Orlando, FL this April.

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 competed in the District 4 competition for their respectful and professional behavior at the conference.  Thank you and congratulations!

2023 MN DECA State Career Development Conference

Front Row: Libby Larson, Anna Kelley, Kimora Freeman, Jon Pokrzywa, Josiah Ashworth, Edward Tabla, Mamie Wallace, Jordanna Bradford, Madeleine Larson

Back Row: Mr. Blake Bodenburg, Elizabeth Becker, Samantha Schulz, Diana Lopez-Silva, Lilyanna Gagnon, Azaria Banks, Miranda Froslie, Samantha Dennis, Kelsey Koehler, Madi Froslie

On March 5^th, 6^th and 7^th 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 event finalists for the Community Giving Project of Azaria Banks, Lilyanna Gagnon, and Samantha Dennis.  Also earning a state finalist was the Sales project team of Samantha Schulz, Diana Lopez-Silva, and Madeleine Larson.  Sophomore Kelsey Koehler finalized in a very competitive Professional Selling event.  The Coon Rapids team of Madi Froslie, Josiah Ashworth, and Edward Tabla also qualified in the School-Based-Enterprise Project by re-certifying the Cardinal Image as a gold level enterprise. Ashworth also earned a 6^th place finish in Principles of Marketing.  The Coon Rapids DECA Gold Chapter team of Anna Kelley and Libby Larson placed 4^th in the state. Lastly, senior Jon Pokrzywa placed 1^st, State Champion, in Principles of Marketing.  Overall, Coon Rapids had 9 state finalists in their individual or team events.

Amidst the 2,300 competitors at the state conference, Miranda Froslie and Jon Pokrzywa earned a top 25 test score in their business administration event.  Jon followed that up by also earning a top 25 test score in his finance exam.  In addition to all the top finishes, the Coon Rapids chapter was acknowledged with the distinction of earning the highest Achievement Level on all five national DECA chapter campaigns. The campaigns include the Membership Campaign, the Global Entrepreneurship Campaign, the Promotional Campaign, Community Service Campaign, and the Advocacy Campaign.

Other highlights of the conference were when Libby Larson and Madi Froslie were named Coon Rapids High School’s Outstanding DECA Members of the Year. Anna Kelley, Kelsey Koehler, Libby Larson, Josiah Ashworth, and Madi Froslie earned the Minnesota DECA Speaker’s Bureau Awards, for their work this year in speaking in promotion of business and marketing education to the larger community. Along with all the student successes, advisor Blake Bodenburg was honored to be named as one of nine Minnesota Secondary DECA Outstanding Advisors at the conference.

In addition to all the top finishes, recognitions, and awards, Miranda Froslie, Kelsey Koehler, Azaria Banks, Madi Froslie, Anna Kelley, Josiah Ashworth, Kimora Freeman, Libby Larson, Jon Pokrzywa, Lilyanna Gagnon, Elizabeth Becker all qualified to attend this spring’s International Career Development Competition in Orlando, FL.  At this conference Coon Rapids will be competing with 22,000 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!

2023 International Conference Attendees: Orlando, Florida

Anna Kelley:         Gold Chapter Campaign, Ignite Academy

Libby Larson:        Gold Chapter Campaign, Aspire Academy

Azaria Banks:        Chapter Community Service/Promotional/Global Entrepreneurship/and Membership Campaigns, Thrive Academy

Elizabeth Becker:  Chapter Community Service/Promotional/Global Entrepreneurship/and Membership Campaigns, Thrive Academy

Lilyanna Gagnon:  Chapter Community Service/Promotional/Global Entrepreneurship/and Membership Campaigns, Thrive Academy

Kimora Freeman:   Chapter Community Service/Promotional/Global Entrepreneurship/and Membership Campaigns, Thrive Academy

Jon Pokrzywa:        Principles of Marketing, Certificate of Excellence

Kelsey Koehler:      Professional Selling, Presentation Event Finalist, Certificate of Excellence

Madi Froslie:           School-Based-Enterprise, Food Operations, Certificate of Excellence

Josiah Ashworth:    School-Based-Enterprise, Food Operations, Certificate of Excellence

Miranda Froslie:      School-Based-Enterprise, Food Operations, Certificate of Excellence