Oklahoma DECA took 223 people from 17 chapters to the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Florida, to compete against students from around the world.
Three Oklahoma students returned with top 10 results in their competitive events: Aarav Jilka, Edmond Santa Fe High School, top 10 exam score in human resource management; Makayla Worley Jolly, Francis Tuttle Technology Center-Rockwell Campus, top 10 role play in professional selling; and Diana Nguyen, Mustang High School, top 10 role play in professional selling. Each event had between 100 and 150 competitors.

“Oklahoma was well represented at this year's DECA International Career Development Conference,” said Paxton Cavin, Oklahoma DECA adviser at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. “Over the year our association has implemented a competitive events training initiative, and we are seeing the results from those efforts. Our advisers and students are committed to diligently working to showcase their skills at this international competition.”
Oklahoma advisers were responsible for managing the Principles of Marketing event, Cavin said, and the 2023-24 state executive council served as voting delegates to elect a new DECA executive council.
In addition, the officers completed leadership training and networking activities with other officer teams at the conference.
“Our students are not only getting the experience of competing with at least 100 competitors in their competitions, but also the unique opportunity to network with 22,000 students from all over the world who are all working towards similar goals,” Cavin said. “The energy at ICDC is unmatched, and Oklahoma always rises to the occasion to represent our state in the best way.”
DECA is one of seven CareerTech student organizations affiliated with CareerTech programs. It is affiliated with marketing education. The other six are FCCLA (family and consumer sciences education), FFA (agricultural education), SkillsUSA (trade and industrial education), Business Professionals of America (business and information technology education), Technology Student Association (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and HOSA (health careers education).
Oklahoma CareerTech: Education that works for you
The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education provides leadership and resources and assures standards of excellence for a comprehensive statewide system of career and technology education. The system offers programs and services in 29 technology center districts operating on 60 campuses, 391 PK-12 school districts, 15 Skills Centers campuses that include three juvenile facilities and 32 adult education and family literacy providers.
The agency is governed by the State Board of Career and Technology Education and works closely with the State Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education to provide a seamless educational system for all Oklahomans.