Competitions
DECA has partnered with various corporations to create exciting challenges for your students. These challenges take place in your classroom instead of at the State Career Development Conference. The timeline for these events are spread throughout the year and are not considered a competitive event. Winners of these digital/video challenges are recognized onstage at ICDC. For more information about DECA Challenges, click here.
Members do not have to qualify to attend the State Career Development Conference (SCDC). They do, however, have to qualify at SCDC in order to compete at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC). Please reference the ICDC conference page for more information.
DECA, Inc. publishes the DECA Guide each fall, which is your guide to all things competitive events. DECA sends out a hard copy to each chapter, however, there is an online version which is great to have on hand and share with students. You can find the DECA Guide here.
Business Operations Research Events are made up of one to three people on a team. The team will be able to demonstrate the skills needed by management personnel through a marketing research study. Prior to the Career Development Conference, the team will research and write a document for submission. The document may have a maximum of 20 numbered pages. At the State Career Development Conference, teams will give a 15 minute presentation on their strategies and plan. During the presentation, teams may use approved visual aids. To find out more about business operations research events, please click here.
Project Management Events are made up of one to three people on a team who complete a project. Prior to the Career Development Conference, the team will write a document for submission based on their project. The document may have a maximum of 20 numbered pages. At the State Career Development Conference, teams will give a 15 minute presentation on their project. During the presentation, teams may use approved visual aids. To find out more about Project Management Events, please click here.
Entrepreneurship events provide opportunities to explore entrepreneurial concepts from idea generation and business planning to growing an existing business. Team sizes and requirements vary from event to event; however, all entrepreneurship events are comprised of a formal written report and formal business presentation. Prior to the State Career Development Conference, the team or individual will submit a written document. To find out more about entrepreneurship events, please click here.
Integrated Marketing Campaign Events consist of teams of one to three people. IMC events provide opportunities for members to develop an integrated marketing campaign of no more than 45 days in length for a real event, product or service and present the campaign in a role-play situation. Teams will complete a written document of outlined fact sheets of no more than 10 pages. Participants will submit their written document prior to the State Career Development Conference. At the Career Development Conference, participants will individually take a 100-question, multiple-choice exam. The score will be averaged between the teammates. Teams will then give an oral presentation, lasting no longer than 15 minutes. Teams may use approved visual aids. To find out more about marketing representative events, please click here.
Professional Selling Events consist of one individual participant. The participant will be able to demonstrate the skills needed for a career in sales through an organized and pre-planned sales presentation. The sales presentation will last no longer than 15 minutes. The participant will then take a 100-question, multiple-choice exam. The participant may use approved visual aids. To find out more about professional selling events, please click here.
Participants in the Stock Market Game develop and manage an investment portfolio. Each participating team of one to three students manages all aspects of the portfolio including stock selection, buying and selling. The goal of the competition is to increase the value of the beginning portfolio. The top 25 in each region will have the opportunity to develop a 10 page defense of their portfolio and do a 15 minute presentation at the International Career Development Conference; there is no state level competition in this event.
DECA’s Virtual Business Challenge events provide opportunities for students to participate in online simulations to learn how to manage personal finances, or operate a business venture. This event is done in teams of one to three students. There are two rounds of these events and the top 3 per round per challenge will have the opportunity to compete live at the International Career Development Conference; there is no state level in these challenges.
For additional information on the online events, please click here.
Team Decision Making Events are done in teams of two. Each participant on the team will individually take a 100-question, multiple-choice exam. The individual score from each teammate will be averaged to produce a team score on the exam. Teams are then given a written case study and have 30 minutes to read it, talk with each other, and prepare for a 15 minute presentation of the case study as a team. The case study will ask participants to tackle a business challenge in a creative, thoughtful, and knowledgeable way. To find out more about team decision making events, please click here.
This event is for first–year DECA participants only, and is done by one participant individually. Participants will be given a 100-question, multiple-choice exam covering business administration. They are then given a written content interview, and have 10 minutes to read it and prepare for a 10 minute presentation of the content interview. The content interview will ask participants to tackle a business challenge in a creative, thoughtful, and knowledgeable way. To find our more about principles events, please click here.
Individual Series Events consist of one person. The participant will be given a 100-question, multiple-choice exam. The participant is then given a written role play, and will have 10 minutes to read it and prepare for a 10 minute presentation of the role play. The role play will ask participants to tackle a business challenge in a creative, thoughtful, and knowledgeable way. To find out more about individual series events, please click here.
Conferences – General Information
Conference dates can be found either under the Calendar or Conferences tab of this website.
Depending on the conference you attend, different events may be offered. Please check the registration guide to be sure that you sign your students up for events that are being offered at the conference you plan to attend. The State Career Development Conference does not offer online events or DECA Challenges.
Students may compete in a MAXIMUM of four competitive events; two written event and two series event, with the series events occurring on separate days, i.e., students cannot compete in two Monday series events. Also, students cannot compete in events with conflicting cluster exam times, i.e., a student can only take one cluster exam during the offered testing time. For more information on the tentative schedule of competitive events and further details on competitive event restrictions, please see the SCDC conference registration guide.
*Note: For SCDC, Virtual Business Challenges and Stock Market Game do not count toward the maximum of two events. These projects take place outside of conferences unless students advance to ICDC to compete in these events.
Oregon DECA offers multiple conference opportunities throughout the year. The focus is often either leadership, competition, or both. The Oregon Association of DECA holds these conferences in the state of Oregon and is responsible for the management and execution of these conferences. All registration is done through Oregon DECA.
DECA, Inc. offers conferences all throughout the United States, such as the New York Experience, Sports and Entertainment Marketing Conference and Innovations and Entrepreneurship Conference. Oregon DECA chapters attend these conferences, but complete their registration through the national organization (except in the case of the International Career Development Conference, where individual chapters send all of their information to Oregon DECA and Oregon DECA registers the association). Most policies and procedures for DECA conferences are very similar to, if not the same, as Oregon DECA policies and procedures. If you choose to attend any of conferences, please be sure to read all of the registration materials very carefully.
You may bring as many or as few students as you wish. For Oregon DECA, the adult to student ratio is 1:15 and the National DECA adult to student ratio is typically 1:8. For more details, please review the registration guide for the specific conference.
The DECA Knowledge Test is a central part of the State Officer candidate application process and must be taken by all students wishing to be elected to a position. The test serves as a valuable indicator of knowledge of the DECA world which ensures that only informed, committed students are elected to state office.
The DECA Knowledge Test is a comprehensive exam covering several critical areas of the state and international levels of DECA. The test is updated every year and traditionally contains questions related to topics such as competitive events, important people and events in the DECA world, and DECA’s history, branding, and guiding principles. Accompanying the Knowledge Test is a study guide that serves as a valuable study resource for the exam. Students wishing to excel on the DECA Knowledge Test are strongly encouraged to use the study guide as their primary study resource, but are also encouraged to research other information sources, including the state and international DECA websites.
Continuing with Oregon DECA’s tradition of recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of our students, advisors, alumni, and business partners, we are encouraging submissions for the awards listed below. Please take a moment to consider the accomplishments of your students, your fellow advisors, your alumni and members of the business community to Oregon DECA. If you feel special recognition is due, fill out the appropriate form and submit it by the due date listed on each form.
Oregon DECA participates in a Fall Leadership Experience; a one-day conference held with other Career and Technical Student Organizations from Oregon (FBLA, FCCLA, SkillsUSA and HOSA). If your chapter feels ready, we also recommend attending the State Career Development Conference later on in February. The State Career Development Conference is located in Portland each February. Chapters may also attend ICDC if you have students that quality in competitive events or in leadership academy slots.
Conferences – Registration
Your conference registration fee covers entrance into the conference, including all materials and printed items as well as competition. If the conference is a multi-day event, there will also be a hotel fee associated with the fee. It is required that all chapters stay on site during the conference. Please review the specific conference registration guide for the hotel fees for the conference. Please note that both registration and hotel fees are due prior to attending the conference.
Yes, all students and advisors attending the conference must be registered DECA members. Chaperones do not need to be registered as a DECA member.
Registration for conferences can be found online in the corresponding conference guide. The State Management Team will also email out the conference guide for each conference once it is released. All registration information can be found in the conference guide. Should you have specific questions on registration for a conference, please send an email to: registration@oregondeca.org
Conferences – Logistics
Most conferences focus on either leadership or competition, or some combination of the two. Conferences offer general sessions with keynote speakers, competition, testing, awards/recognition sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities. Agendas for most conferences can be found in the corresponding registration guide.
Students generally walk away with an increased knowledge of the business world, new friendships and connections, lasting memories, and more self-confidence. Conferences and competitions give students a chance to apply what they learn in the classroom while gaining valuable leadership and life skills.
Yes. All participants, including advisors and chaperones, are required to stay at the conference hotel for the duration of the conference in the case of an overnight event. There are no exceptions to this policy, no matter how close the participants live.
Unless noted in the conference registration guide, no meals are provided at conferences. Conferences often take place near a variety of local eateries and grocery stores.
The advisor and school administration to coordinate travel to and from the conference facility. Oregon DECA does not coordinate travel to and from conferences.
Conferences – Policies
There are no refunds or cancellations. Your chapter will be responsible to pay for the number of students you register. If a student drops out after registration is submitted, the chapter will still need to pay for that student. You may substitute one student for another that cannot attend. There is a small substitution fee.
As the advisor, you must attend any conferences the students attend and stay for the duration of the conference. You must also stay at the conference hotel for any overnight conferences. Students may not attend a conference without their official school advisor.
You may bring as many or as few students as you wish. For Oregon DECA, the adult to student ratio is 1:15 and the National DECA adult to student ratio is typically 1:8. For more details, please review the registration guide for the specific conference.
Oregon DECA requires one adult for every 15 students at a Oregon DECA conference. This ratio is often different for a National DECA conference (for example, ICDC requires a ratio of 1 adult for every 8 students). Please be sure to read all registration materials carefully to ensure you are within the proper ratio.
Oregon DECA requires that anyone who is acting as a chaperone or advisor is age 21 or older.
Advisors must be certificated faculty members in order to serve as the advisor. Should you have any questions about whether you meet the requirements, please email the management team at hello@oregondeca.org.
The registration guide will designate who the check should be made out to. All payment should be sent to: P.O. Box 1440 Owasso, OK 74055 . Payment should be in the form of one check for the entire delegation. We are unable to accept any credit cards or Purchase Orders. We are also unable to accept multiple checks from individuals; payment should be made with one check via a school account. Should you have questions in regards to payment, please contact us at registration@oregondeca.org.
Conferences – Governance & Dues
Chapters have the ability to structure the chapter leadership team to best suit your local chapter needs. For an example of chapter leadership structure, see page 19 of This Is How We Do DECA.
Please contact our management team at hello@oregondeca.org.
Founded in 1946, DECA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit student organization with more than 200,000 high school members, 5,500 advisors, and 15,000 postsecondary collegiate division members around the world. The student members of DECA are smart, dedicated individuals already actively involved in preparing for successful careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. Oregon DECA is a member association of National DECA with over 1,000 members.
DECA’s eight guiding principles are organized around the organization’s emblem, the DECA Diamond. The inner four points of the DECA Diamond represent the guiding principles which address the purpose of DECA’s comprehensive learning program:
DECA Inc. has three primary purposes: to assist state/provincial associations in the growth and development of DECA; to further develop education in marketing and distribution which will contribute to occupational competence; and to promote understanding and appreciation for the responsibilities of citizenship in our free, competitive, enterprise system.
There are four regions within DECA: Western Region, Central Region, North Atlantic Region, and Southern Region. Oregon DECA is a member of the Western Region. For a graphic of the regions in DECA, click here.
You can find out more about our State Management Team here.
The DECA, Inc. office is located in Reston, VA.
DECA Inc. staff directory can be found here.
Key contacts:
Christopher Young;
High School Division Director
Shop DECA is the DECA store managed by DECA, Inc. They sell official DECA materials, including blazers, competition materials, and branded items.
You can contact Shop DECA here:
1908 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191-1594
Phone: 703-860-5006
Fax: 703-860-4013
shopdeca_@deca.org
DECA membership is available to students with career interests in marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, hospitality and management in grades nine through twelve. DECA membership is also open to DECA advisors, alumni and professional members. Students who are in college may join Collegiate DECA.
All students who participate in DECA activities at the local, district, state and/or international levels should pay state/provincial/territorial and DECA Inc. dues. These activities include, but are not limited to, conferences, competitive events, online challenges, scholarship applications and more. Board policy states that all members, including advisors, must pay membership dues.
DECA membership in Oregon is based on an affiliation model. Click here to see the model.
In addition to an official membership card and pin, DECA members have opportunities to attend conferences designed to prepare them for college and careers, can earn recognition and prove their knowledge in DECA’s Competitive Events Program, can earn their share of more than $300,000 in scholarships and more. DECA membership is for one school year.
The minimum chapter size is ten (10) student members and one (1) advisor (or any combination of 11 paid members). The only exception is in the case of a new or reactivated chapter, which has two years to obtain the minimum chapter size. In this case, please contact Michael Mount at michael@deca.org.
Alumni members are individuals who have graduated and wish to remain involved with the program by paying the appropriate DECA Inc. and state/provincial/territorial dues. Alumni members receive a pin and card and the value of supporting an organization that has impacted them and additional emerging leaders and entrepreneurs.
Professional members are individuals from the community (i.e., business leaders, judges, internship sponsors, counselors, administrators) who are active with the chapter. They must pay the appropriate DECA Inc. and state/provincial/territorial dues. Professional members receive a pin and card and the value of supporting an organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs to be college and career ready.
Once a name is submitted it cannot be deleted or substituted. Corrections can be made through the Membership Portal and will only be approved for misspelled names.
When submitting names, use full names rather than nicknames. The name should appear the same on ALL documents (conference registration, competition, etc.) throughout the year.
Simply go back into the online membership system and enter new members the same way you entered the initial members. Double check to make sure your chapter information is still correct.
Oregon DECA aims to provide support, tools and resources as you start your chapter. To find out more about how to start a chapter and suggested steps, please check out our resources here.
The DECA Chapter Campaigns are designed to engage your members in DECA activities throughout the year. DECA offers five unique campaigns that will help grow your chapter and build lasting partnerships within your school and community. There are great awards for DECA chapters that attain recognition through DECA’s Chapter Campaigns, including the opportunity to earn a certificate, pennant, plaque, flag, and even three allocations to attend the THRIVE Academy at DECA’s International Career Development Conference (ICDC). To find out more about the DECA Chapter Campaigns, please click here.
The constitution of the Oregon Association of DECA can be found here.
DECA’s scholarship program provides over $300,000 in scholarships to high school and college DECA members at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) each year. Many corporate partners of DECA provide scholarships through the DECA through DECA scholarship program. DECA Inc. administers the program based on guidelines set by the donor. DECA scholarships are strictly merit based.
You can find out more about the scholarships here.
DECA’s mission is to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.
DECA’s core values and attributes are competence, innovation, integrity and teamwork. These values are central to DECA’s mission and purpose in classrooms around the world.
Contact Information
Please contact our management team at hello@oregondeca.org.
Oregon DECA staff can be reached at: (541)-633-4287
Oregon DECA
P.O. Box 1440
Owasso, OK 74055
The State Officer Team would love to hear from you! You can reach them by checking out their bios and contact information here.