Eleven members of Indian Trail High School’s DECA Club recently qualified for the International Career Development Conference April 23-26 in Atlanta.
DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. The International competition attracts DECA chapters from all 50 states and different countries.
“The event is amazing,” Indian Trail advisor Lora Lehmann said. “Over 10,000 students come together to participate in leadership development breakouts. Many companies use this as an opportunity to network with students to encourage them to apply for internships when in college.
Keller Darre 
Bella Greeno
Meredith Kaufmann 
Margaret Lira
“The speakers that are brought in encourage students to pursue their career dreams, give back to the community and grow as a leader.”
The Wisconsin DECA State Career Development Conference wrapped up Feb. 26 in Lake Geneva.
Here is a closer look at Indian Trail’s International qualifiers and how they fared at the state level:
Keller Darre — Qualified for Internationals: Hospitality Consulting Presentation – Finalist Medal
Bella Greno — Qualified for Internationals: Restaurant Service Management – Finalist Medal
Sona Hawkins — Double qualified for Internationals: Professional Selling – Marketing Presentation: Exam Medal, Finalist Medal and first place in the State Principles of Marketing – Exam Medal, Finalist Medal and third place in the state
Meredith Kaufmann — Qualified for Internationals: Human Resources Management – Two Role Play Medals, Finalist Medal and fourth place in the state
Margaret Lira — Double qualified for Internationals: Hospitality Consulting Presentation: Finalist Medal and third place in the state; Quick Serve Restaurant Category – two medals in role plays, Finalist Medal and fifth place in the state
Remy Strichartz — Qualified for Internationals: Professional Selling – Marketing Presentation: Exam Medal, Finalist Medal and third place in the state
Taylor Wilmot — Double qualified for Internationals: Professional Selling – Marketing Presentation: Exam Medal, Finalist and fifth place in the state; Business Services Category – one medal in role plays, Finalist and seventh place in the state
Rebecca Hannaman and Jack Steck — Qualified for Internationals: Finance Services Team Decision Making – Role Play Medal, Finalist Medal and third place in the state
Joel Lopez and Tucker Matrisch — Qualified for Internationals: Sports and Entertainment Team Decision Making – Role Play Medal, Finalist Medal and fifth place in the state
Sri Kandrakota — Qualified for the leadership academies in Atlanta
Others who made it on stage during the state competition were:
Robbie George — Hospitality Consulting Presentation – Test Medal and Finalist Medal Quick Serve Restaurant – Exam Medal
Kandrakota and Kaitlyn Youngman — Hospitality Services Team – Role Play Medal
Kaufmann, Matrisch and Steck — International Business Plan – Finalist Medal
Kandrakota, Youngman and Hannaman — Community Service Giving Project – Finalist Medal
Indian Trail DECA is reaching out to local businesses to support the team and its trip to Internationals in Atlanta. For more information, contact Lora Lehmann at 262-359-8620 or llehmann@kusd.edu.
