Seniors Chase Berkshire and A.K. Koyee, along with junior Duncan Rutherford and district DECA advisor Mallory Crome,r traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to compete in the national DECA competition on April 23 to 26. Future DECA president, junior Danny Dombrowski, also attended the event to learn the responsibilities of presidency.

Koyee competed in Automotive Services marketing. Koyee placed in the top eight in the state for his category.

“We could have done better, but I realized that if you didn’t do well on the test, there was no way to advance. The way they score it is that you take a test and then you do two role plays. They weigh all of them equally. Even though I think I did really well on my role plays, I know that I didn’t do well on the test,” Koyee said.

“Nashville was amazing. It’s a really beautiful city. It’s a really great atmosphere, there’s a lot of good food and music everywhere. The competition was definitely more fluid. Everything was on time and everyone knew what they were doing. Everything was faster. Overall though, it was the same old role plays and the same old tests, so it really wasn’t anything new,” Koyee said.

Koyee has participated in DECA for one year.

Berkshire participated in restaurant marketing. This is his first year in DECA. He placed in the top eight at the state competition.

“I didn’t place, but I still thought that it went really well. Nashville was amazing; it was one of the best trips I have ever taken. The people looked a lot more competent. You could definitely tell that they had earned their way to nationals whereas at states they were just handed that because there is no district system. Not only was the competition better, but there were a lot more people,” Berkshire said.

The national competition took place in the Music City Center. There are about 16,000 DECA members nationally.

“There are a lot of categories and each category had around 200 to 250 people. I would have downloaded the app that helps you study for the test because that was weighted very heavily and if you don’t get above a 90, you weren’t going to place. It was a fun time and a good experience,” Berkshire said.

“Try DECA, honestly, it is one of the most fun times I have ever had,” Berkshire said.