Oklahoma Collegiate DECA members returned from the International Career Development Conference in San Francisco with two international officers and several awards.
Peighton Harak and Tucker West were elected to the 2025-26 Collegiate DECA Executive Council as vice presidents. Harak, who works as a part-time clerk in Oklahoma CareerTech’s health science education division, attends Oklahoma State University, and West attends High Plains Technology Center.
Rachel Antony, Oklahoma Baptist University, placed first in travel and tourism, and Annie Davis and Avie Krebs, Oklahoma Christian University, placed third in digital marketing strategies.
Other finalists were Sarah Black and Kenley York, Oklahoma Baptist University, sports marketing; Stone Small and Josh Drouin, Oklahoma Christian University, sports marketing; and Lynnley Grindstaff, Oklahoma Baptist University, marketing management.
“I’m incredibly proud of our Oklahoma Collegiate DECA members and their outstanding accomplishments at the International Career Development Conference,” said Cori Gray, Oklahoma CareerTech director of student success. “The level of leadership, professionalism and Oklahoma competitive spirit was showcased though out the conference.
“Having two students elected to international office is an extraordinary honor that reflects the dedication and the support of the students, instructors and stakeholders of the Oklahoma CareerTech system.”
Twenty-one members of Oklahoma Collegiate DECA attended the conference April 5-8.
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: Oklahoma’s Workforce Leader
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 62 campuses, 395 PK-12 school districts, 16 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.
