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The Fossil Ridge High School DECA chapter is going to nationals April 23-26 in Nashville, Tennessee. The actual  DECA Nationals event is one pixel in a whole screen that accounts for hours of practice and undying dedication of members. In basic terms, DECA is an organization dedicated to helping students learn skills necessary for careers in marketing, entrepreneurship, and management positions. There are countless categories that one is able to compete within and even more events within these areas. Marketing, finance, business administration, hospitality, and tourism are the major events. Roleplay consists of a real life problem that you have to solve in differing amounts of minutes before a single judge or panel of judges who has experience in that particular industry.

There are three competitions that Sabercats prepare for  the most: regionals, which is between all public schools in Fort Collins, is one of them. This year Fossil demolished all schools in this competition. Those that do well in the regional competition can then move on to the state competition. Jules Jackson and Courtney Koplyay took first place in the Hospitality Services along with many other Sabercats placing in various events in the state competition.

The most elite competition in the United States for DECA is obviously nationals. This year it will be held in Nashville, Tennessee where 39 out 75 of  DECA students will be competing. “Me and my partner literally put in hundreds of hours there’s so many logistics and kinks to fix” said Macy Horner.      

The following students are going to Nationals

State Champions and National Qualifiers

1st Place Buying and Merchandising Operations Research – Conor Medina, Sydney Moore, Ben Walker

1st Place Business Services Operations Research – Spencer Evans, Cammie Fowler, Preston Friehauf

1st Place Community Service – Jordan Carlyle, Rebekah Engel, Laura Martella

1st Place Creative Marketing – Gianna Campana and Macy Dunnigan

1st Place Hospitality Services – Courtney Koplyay and Julianna Jackson

1st Place Restaurant and Food – Neil Rowen

National Qualifiers

2nd Place Business Services Operations Research – Ryan Cronin, Nick Edridge, Ethan Stancyzk

2nd Place Finance Operations Research – Erica Lewis, Lindsey Swanson, and Katherine Laine

2nd Place Sports and Entertainment Operations Research -Ryan Flack and Alex Marr

2nd Place Learn and Earn – Emma Habein, Macy Horner, Julianna Jackson

2nd Place Retail Merchandising – Spencer Evans

2nd Place Quick Serve Restaurant – Ben Visee

3rd Place Financial Literacy Promotion – Ben Visee, Ryan Hsin, and Matt Atkins

4th Place Community Service – Jackson Arnold and Lauren Bontempo

4th Place Creative Marketing – Zach Brogan, Tiana Noble, and Will Beard

4th Place Quick Serve – Cooper Wright

4th Place Accounting – Noel Thomas

4th Place Business Finance – Rex Boge

5th Place Marketing Management – Macy Dunnigan

5th Place Apparel and Accessories – Alex Marr

5th Place Independent Business Plan – Vohn Marwitz

6th Place Apparel and Accessories – Laura Martella

State Officer – Will Beard

School Based Enterprise – Miguel Johnson, Ella Devenny, Stephanie Swanson

Colorado DECA Scholarship Recipient – Gianna Campana