Students from Lakeland High School, International Academy West and Milford High School delivered standout performances at the Michigan DECA State Career Development Conference in Detroit, competing against nearly 5,000 students from across the state.
Members of the Lakeland High School/International Academy West DECA chapter earned an impressive list of honors, with many students recognized as State Finalists — placing them among Michigan’s top competitors in their respective events. Thirteen students also qualified to represent Michigan at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Atlanta this April.
Lakeland students earning Exam Medals included Reekhav Shah and Aanya Janga.
Students earning Role Play Medals were Berkley Humes, Olivia Kalhorn and Saanvi Gudi.
The following Lakeland students were named State Finalists:
Mark Kena, Taryn Marco, Sofiya Razumova, Swarna Kokotam, Priya Shah, Nicole Powers, Rina Lewis, Abigail Jakubowski, Emma Kuehl, Makayla Brown, Exavier Moyer, Laken Smith, Carter Travis, Jenna Sievert, Landon Johns, Michael Zaremba, Gavin Johns, Olivia Kalhorn, Berkley Humes, Madeline Downs, Elizabeth Prell, Leah Voss, Leah Kalhorn, Audrey Campbell, Aanya Janga, Saanvi Gudi, Isabella Slawynk and Avery Taylor.
Students advancing to the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) are:
Mark Kena, Nicole Powers, Rina Lewis, Makayla Brown, Jenna Sievert, Jake Cole, Evan Cotton, Yanni Karagiorgos, Emery Slating, Berkley Humes, Olivia Kalhorn, Isabella Slawynk and Avery Taylor.
Milford High School DECA also had a strong showing at the state conference. The chapter sent 52 students to compete in more than 30 events. Eight Milford students earned the prestigious DECA Glass, awarded to the top six finishers in each event, securing their place at the international competition in Atlanta this spring.
Milford students earning DECA Glass and advancing to ICDC include:
Lacey Smith and Maddie Zumstein (Buying and Merchandising Operations Research), Gavin Hess and Charlie Yager (Integrated Marketing Campaign – Service), Toby Martin (Retail Merchandising Series), Brody Mayville (Quick Serve Restaurant Management), and Anthony Baidas and Nolan Treder (School Based Enterprise – Retail).
Several Milford students were also Finalists in their events, including:
Benji Hallgren (Entrepreneurship Series), Grace Paulson (Human Resources Management), Brody Mayville and Norman Grant (Quick Serve Restaurant Management), Madison Cornett and Toby Martin (Retail Merchandising Series), Regina Chappel, Izzy Green and Caroline Nguyen (Leadership and Teamwork), Tanner Wertz (Integrated Marketing Campaign – Product), Bella Okragly and Adele Schneider (Integrated Marketing Campaign – Service), Lacey Smith and Maddie Zumstein (Buying and Merchandising Operations Research), and Gavin Hess and Charlie Yager (Integrated Marketing Campaign – Service).
Milford students also earned several top performance awards, including top test scores and role plays.
Top Test honors went to Peyton Stauss (Sport and Entertainment Marketing), Grayson Phillips (Sport and Entertainment Team Decision Making), Norman Grant (Quick Serve Restaurant Management), Gavin Hess (Integrated Marketing Campaign – Service), and Brody Mayville (Quick Serve Restaurant Management).
Top Role Play honors were awarded to Toby Martin (Retail Merchandising Series), Sophie Jackson and Tommy Shaw (Buying and Merchandising Team Decision Making), and Brody Mayville (Quick Serve Restaurant Management).
Gavin Hess also earned the Top Mathematics Test and Top Economics Test Score at the conference.
With dozens of finalists and more than 20 students advancing to international competition between the two schools, the results highlight the strength of Huron Valley Schools’ DECA programs and the dedication of students preparing for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.
Students advancing to ICDC will compete against top DECA members from around the world at the International Career Development Conference in Atlanta later this spring.