After a semester of preparation, Dublin DECA travelled to Anaheim to compete at the DECA State Competition on the weekend of March 3-5. Thousands of high school students across the state convened at the Anaheim Marriott to share their shared passion for business, economics, public speaking, and innovation. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. Through a comprehensive learning program, chapter events, networking opportunities, leadership conferences, and competitions, DECA members have discovered new paths and understood that the possibilities of success are limitless.

Dublin DECA arrived with 26 members eager to display their skills, network with business representatives from across the nation, and compete for a chance to travel to the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. After three days of skill-based interviews, testing, and presentations, six members from Dublin’s team qualified for ICDC.

Saahil Shangle, Dublin DECA’s President, competed for his third consecutive year at the state competition and was awarded second place. He shared that last year he placed as “an international finalist in [his] event, Personal Financial Literacy” and shared that his “ personal goal this time is to keep on improving.”

First year members Liron Day and Emma Caufield won their event, Marketing Team Decision Making. They both had an“incredible amount of fun competing and meeting new people from California.” Alongside their championship in their event, both competitors won the California DECA Scavenger Hunt.

Overall, DECA had an extremely valuable season for first year competitors and students greatly improved their leadership skills. Congratulations to the Dublin DECA team and thanks for representing Dublin High. Good luck to the six competitors moving forward to ICDC. Go Gaels!