High Schoolers from around the country had the opportunity to visit Las Vegas for the DECA state convention at the Flamingo hotel, and Faith Lutheran’s team was no exception.

DECA is a nationwide group made up of teams from each school in any state that wishes to participate. DECA prepares teens for a future in business by allowing them to talk to actual business owners about topics from hospitality to finance. These actual business owners dedicate their time to judging the roleplays and giving the students feedback on their performance. They will also get to play the role of staff in business and pitch ideas and solutions to problems to these judges.

Faith competed in individual and team events, while also getting free time to explore the hotel and go with chaperones to eat and hang out at the Linq on the Las Vegas strip. Junior Spencer Hosking, a newcomer to DECA, explained how the trip went. “The trip was great, we felt really independent because we got to stay in our own rooms and manage our own schedules, as well as get dressed in business clothes every day. I learned a lot about business and had a lot of fun at the same time.”

Students participated in 2 individual roleplays as well as a team roleplay, or presented a single large presentation to judges on a certain business situation. “I did hospitality and lodging, and did fairly well on all of my roleplays, especially for being new” said Hosking. As well as roleplays, some experienced DECA members ran for different offices in the program, such as representatives for their state, or the president of DECA. Other students participated in workshops with experienced businessmen and women to improve their skills.

When not working hard to improve their business skills, students had time to relax and eat at the many restaurants in the Flamingo and on the Linq. “It was easy to get a chaperone if you wanted to eat on the Linq, which I did twice, but the Flamingo had some good restaurants too.” As well as restaurants, the Flamingo is home to a diverse range of stores students could shop in between events.

“I definitely would want to go again. I learned a lot, and had a fantastic time. I would say there’s no downside to the trip.”