Mayville State’s Team Collegiate DECA who attended the international conference in Orlando, Fla. in April. Back row (left to right): Jamison Kramer, Marion, N.D.; Sam Grayson, Ipswich, OLD; Josh Dohman, Shelly, Minn.; Connor Fields, Thompson, N.D.; Brennen Beaudin, Northwood, N.D.; Logan Maus, Thompson, N.D.; Sam Preston, Hillsboro, N.D.; Logan Hoff, Richardton, N.D.; Gunnar Petersen, Mayville, N.D.; Julia Kohls, Mayville, N.D.; and co-advisor Rob Johnston. Front row (left to right): Co-advisor Dustin Olson; Jami Zaun, Wahpeton, N.D.; Breck Fugleberg, Portland, N.D.; Miriam Carignan, Walhalla, N.D.; Leighton Wolfgram, Thompson, N.D.; Ellie Reierson, Frazee, Minn.; Samantha Passa, Barnesville, Minn.; Lauryn Wolfgram, Thompson, N.D.; and Taylor Stegman, Drayton, N.D.
May 2, 2023
Julia Kohls, Mayvlle, N.D., and Lauryn Wolfgram, Thompson, N.D., finished as top-10 finalists in the world in the Business Ethics competition at the Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Fla. April 15-18, 2023. Several other members of the Mayville State Collegiate DECA team were finalists in their various competitions. In addition, the chapter was recognized for excellence, as were some of Mayville State’s individual members.
Eighteen Mayville State University Collegiate DECA students participated in the international conference. The annual conference provides the opportunity for students to compete against others from all over the world in business-specific events. The Mayville State students had to qualify for the Orlando conference at the state competition held in Fargo, N.D. this past February.
“This year’s team exceeded expectations in Orlando, with 12 of our 18 students making it to the final round in competition,” said chapter co-advisor Dustin Olson. “Several team members got on the international stage for the first time, which is always exciting to watch. Of the 22 North Dakota finalists, more than half were from Mayville State. Four of Mayville State’s finalists are pursing Mayville State’s new accounting program. That’s exciting!”
The Mayville State team was one of 22 chapters worldwide to receive the Chapter Leadership Passport Award. There are about 200 Collegiate DECA chapters in the world.
Nineteen Mayville State students were recognized with the Individual Leadership Passport Award during the opening ceremony at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort. Only 130 of the nearly 5,000 Collegiate DECA students worldwide were recognized. Mayville State had the more students recognized than any other college or university in the world.
The Collegiate DECA Leadership Passport Program encourages local chapters and individual members to plan activities and participate in events that enhance the experiences of members. The Leadership Passport rewards action taken by members and chapters that build personal and professional skill sets focused around helping members academically prepared, community oriented, professionally responsible, and experienced leaders.
The following Mayville State students finished as finalists in their competitions:
Business Ethics: Julia Kohls, Mayville, N.D. and Lauryn Wolfgram, Thompson, N.D. - Top 10 Finalist
Event Planning: Taylor Stegman and Sam Preston - Finalist
Fashion Merchandising & Marketing: Samantha Passa - Finalist
Financial Accounting: Logan Maus - Finalist
Managerial Accounting: Joshua Dohman - Finalist
Travel & Tourism: Connor Fields - Finalist
International Marketing: Samuel Grayson and Jamison Kramer - Finalist
Sports & Entertainment Marketing: Logan Hoff and Brennen Beaudin - Finalist
Collegiate DECA’s overlying mission is to “prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.” MSU Collegiate DECA is open to students in all majors.
Students spend many hours fundraising and receive generous support from MSU and Collegiate DECA alumni. “As a chapter, we send our most sincere ‘thank you’ for all the support that has been given to our organization,” said chapter co-advisor Rob Johnston. “Without this help, our students would not have been able to take part in the great learning opportunity that is ICDC.”