While the 2026 DECA District I Career Development Conference was held just over a week ago, students in University of Wisconsin-Stout’s marketing and business education program are already planning next year’s event.
For 54 years, UW-Stout has hosted the conference, which prepares high school marketing students for future careers by challenging them to apply critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and communication skills to individual and team events. Likewise, UW-Stout students in the Marketing and Business Education Association (MBEA) are challenged to develop and coordinate the conference, which drew more than 500 students from 18 regional high schools to campus on Jan. 10.
“The most challenging aspect of the DECA event is preparing to implement a large-scale conference,” said Professor Debbie Stanislawski, program director for B.S. marketing and business education and adviser to the MBEA. “Coordinating logistics and ensuring everything runs smoothly requires significant planning and teamwork.”
Among those doing that coordinating this year was senior Ali Hruby, a marketing and business education major from Kennan. She agreed that the immense amount of time and effort required to organize the event are a challenge. “However, I really enjoy working with my colleagues during the setup process and seeing the conference run successfully,” she said.
Through chapters in high schools and colleges worldwide, DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. It has over 250,000 members in more than 3,900 high school chapters and 203 collegiate chapters. At the district event, participants competed in 20 individual and eight team events, encompassing topics such as accounting, entrepreneurship, business finance, restaurant and food service management, retail merchandising, sports and entertainment marketing, and more.
Twelve-month effort
But long before the day of the conference, UW-Stout students had been hard at work for months, embodying the university’s polytechnic mission by applying their skills to plan all aspects of the conference.
“Volunteering for DECA at UW-Stout is an incredible opportunity for marketing and business education majors,” said senior AnuTye Her of Eau Claire, president of the UW-Stout MBEA. “It allows students to gain valuable insight into how DECA operates while experiencing it from an adviser’s perspective.”
After evaluating the just-completed conference, student organizers will make plans for the following year, including securing access to Memorial Student Center. Once the fall semester begins, MBEA members and officers will meet biweekly to keep the process moving.
Stanislawski said that coordinating the event “requires a diverse set of skills that mirror the real-world demands of teaching, advising and leadership.” MBEA students must do everything from implementing registration systems and setting prices to ordering awards and organizing opening and closing sessions — which includes securing keynote speakers and even making speeches to the attendees themselves. During the conference, she added, UW-Stout students help run the competitive events, facilitate social activities, make sure the awards ceremony goes smoothly and more.
Hruby has helped plan the DECA conference for two years. “The day of the event is very busy and fast-paced,” she said. “We begin by making sure everything is set up and ready to go. As schools arrive, students gather in the Great Hall for the welcome session. Throughout the day, we help direct students, troubleshoot issues and ensure the schedule stays on track.”
This year, as social coordinator, Hruby helped keep the high school students occupied as they nervously awaited the events’ results. “My favorite part is watching students participate in their competitions and then seeing their excitement during the awards ceremony when their hard work is recognized,” she said.
Sophomore Shaelee DeWitt, a marketing and business education major from Mondovi, said the conference was a hectic but fun-filled day. Though she was a first-time volunteer, not only did DeWitt help introduce keynote speakers, including Chancellor Katherine Frank, but she also helped tabulate competitors’ scores.
“I am excited for DECA Districts 2027 and can’t wait to make some improvements from this past year to make it even better experience for the students,” she said.
Winners and runners-up in each category advanced to the State Career Development Conference competition from Monday, Feb. 23, to Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa in Lake Geneva.
Embodying the polytechnic approach
For Stanislawski, one of the most enjoyable parts of the conference is seeing the numerous UW-Stout graduates who are now high school DECA advisers. “Watching them lead and teach in their own classrooms is incredibly rewarding — it’s a real showcase of the program’s impact,” she said. “These interactions highlight how the hands-on experiences they had as students prepared them to become confident educators and DECA advisers, which is exactly what our polytechnic approach is all about.”
Most gratifying, however, is seeing students — both high school competitors and college organizers — succeed through their roles in the conference.
“This hands-on experience not only provides insight into what it will be like to guide students as future DECA advisers, but it also aligns with UW-Stout’s polytechnic mission — giving students practical, real-world preparation for their careers as marketing and business teachers,” she said.
The marketing and business education program is part of UW-Stout’s School of Education, which offers nine undergraduate and five graduate programs, including on-campus and online options, along with five certificates and three certifications.
Photos
High school marketing students took part in events that tested their skills in accounting, entrepreneurship and much more.
More than 500 students from 18 area high schools attended the Jan. 10 conference at UW-Stout.
Shelby Johnson, a December 2025 graduate in B.S. marketing and business education, volunteered at the 2026 DECA District I Career Development Conference.
UW-Stout freshman Victoria Birnschein was one of numerous marketing and business education majors who helped at the conference.
