More than 200 Oklahoma DECA students and advisers attended international conferences in April, competing against and networking with thousands of other DECA members from around the world.
More than 30 members and advisers represented Oklahoma at the Collegiate International Career Development Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, where Peighton Harak and Tucker West completed their terms as international vice presidents on the 2025-26 Collegiate DECA Executive Council.
Oklahomans earned several finalist honors as well, said Jake Phillips, DECA state adviser and marketing program specialist at Oklahoma CareerTech:
- Braden Hobby, Oklahoma Christian University — Corporate Finance.
- Gracelyn Madalone and Emma Whaley, Oklahoma Baptist University — Event Planning.
- Joshua Drouin and Stone Small, Oklahoma Christian University — Sports Marketing.
- Alyxander Logan and Blake Morrison, Oklahoma Christian University — Sports Marketing.
“Oklahoma DECA was well represented on stage in Louisville, demonstrating the strength and preparation of its collegiate members,” Phillips said.
Oklahoma DECA also received the Leadership Passport Award, which recognizing members’ commitment to professional development and engagement throughout the conference.
Oklahoma DECA’s high school division took 176 members and advisers to their International Career Development Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, where they competed against more than 17,000 students from around the world.
They also participated in a leadership academies designed to strengthen their leadership potential and further develop their career readiness skills, elected new national officers and celebrated the success of chapters from around the world during the closing ceremony.
“Oklahoma DECA is incredibly proud of the dedication and accomplishments of its students and advisers throughout the year. Their commitment to excellence continues to elevate the association on the international stage,” Phillips said.
Oklahoma DECA is already preparing for next year and planning to attend the High School ICDC in Anaheim, California and the Collegiate ICDC in Austin, Texas, he added.
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 63 campuses, 394 PK-12 school districts, 20 Skills Centers campuses that include three juvenile facilities and 49 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.
