Mound Westonka High School will be sending the most students in school history to the Minnesota state DECA competition in 2024. A total of 169 MWHS students qualified for state following strong performances at the District III DECA Conference held Jan. 7 at Jefferson High School in Bloomington.

Mound Westonka competes in DECA District III along with Blake, Bloomington, Breck, Edina, Minnetonka, Prior Lake, Richfield, Robbinsdale, Shakopee and Waconia high schools. There are 750 students in the DECA District, meaning that 12 students in each event advance to state. MWHS was entered in all 47 events held at the district level, with 184 students competing.

Westonka DECA members placed in the Top 12 in 45 of the 47 events and placed in the Top 3 in 28 events. Westonka earned 11 first-place, 13 second-place and 12 third-place honors.

Maggie Carlson, one of the MWHS DECA advisors, said, “DECA Districts was amazing and man did our Mound Westonka Chapter show up!”

“As a new advisor, I was so impressed with all of the time and effort our students gave prepping for this event,” Carlson said. “Then, to actually see them in-person competing was even more impressive. This record of 169 students advancing to state is a testament to all of that hard work, and I am eagerly anticipating the state competition in March."

The 2024 DECA State Career Development Conference will be held March 10-12 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, where over 3,000 DECA students from across Minnesota will compete.

Participation in DECA develops leadership skills, management skills, civic consciousness, job responsibility, motivation to excel, good work habits, critical thinking and problem solving. DECA is advised by Alex Wagner, Sue Simonson, Nelson Krause and Carlson.

High Test Score Medals

• Kendra Mattson (12)
• Caryn Childers (12)
• Jagger Wittine (11)

Apparel and Accessories Marketing Role Play

• Hannah Christensen (10) - 1st place
• Allison Kreiser (10) - 10th place
• Edie Hollenstein (10)  - 11th place
• Ellie Schaefer (9) - 12th place

Accounting Application Series Role Play

• Kendra Mattson (12) - 1st place

Automotive Services Marketing Role Play

• Bryce Tappen (12) - 6th place
• Hayden Dehmer (10) - 7th place
• Ian Santoski (12) - 8th place
• Kaitlyn Lazenby (10) - 10th place
• Nathan Carlson (10) - 11th place
• Cohen Scholten (12) - 12th place

Business Services Marketing Role Play

• Rohan Nella (11) - 2nd place
• Addison Bryan (9) - 4th place
• Ajay Kirmeier (11) - 5th place
• Marshall Morrison (12) - 6th place
• Bryce Helms (12) - 9th place
• Roman Larsen (11) - 10th place
• Ryan Hempel (12) - 12th place

Entrepreneurship Role Play

• Addison Nash (12) - 2nd place
• Cassie Nemecek (12) - 4th place
• Hailey Lockwood (12) - 6th place
• Liam Bierman (11) - 9th place

Food Marketing Role Play

• Stella Miner (11) - 3rd place
• Maisie Wheeler (12) - 7th place
• Lexie Morris (9) - 11th place
• Brielle Gilbertson (9) - 12th place

Hotel and Lodging Management Role Play

• Cole Drill (11) - 5th place
• Anna Borg (11) - 10th place
• Alexa Leonard (11) - 12th place

Human Resources Management Role Play

• Caryn Childers (12) - 2nd place
• Valerie Mobagi (9) - 7th place
• Luke Carlson (11) - 8th place
• Anna Olson (12) - 9th place

Marketing Communications Role Play

• Olivia Adam (12) - 1st place
• Delaney Hendrix (10) - 8th place
• Avery Olson (11) - 11th place

Personal Financial Literacy Role Play

• Noah Huesmann (10) - 6th place
• Jaden Christ (11) - 8th place

Quick Serve Restaurant Management Role Play

• Michael Oftedahl (12) - 2nd place
• Sienna Dehmer (10) - 7th place
• Bette Mae Grogan (10) - 9th place
• Zoe Lada (12) - 10th place
• Mia Abernethy (10)  - 12th place

Restaurant and Food Service Management Role Play

• Gracie O’Halloran (11) - 1st place
• August Lang (9) - 3rd place
• Linsey Lemire (12) - 8th place

Retail Merchandising Role Play

• Marissa Nelson (12) - 5th place
• Ellie Putnam (11) - 9th place
• Norah Hollenstein (9) - 11th place

Sports & Entertainment Role Play

• Ali Butler (10) - 2nd place
• Suzie Marth (10) - 9th place
• Carter Pickert (10) - 10th place

Principles of Business Management and Administration Role Play

• Stella Johnson (12) - 9th place

Principles of Hospitality and Tourism Role Play

• Owen Trost (9) - 9th place

Buying and Merchandising Team Role Play

• Sam Holmberg (12) & Michael Proulx (12) - 1st place
• Emma Carlson (11) & Camille Ness (11) - 3rd place
• Max Anderson (12) & Isaac Paul (12) - 5th place
• Piper Landsman (11) & Charlotte Mitlyng (11) - 6th place

Entrepreneurship Team Role Play

• Matthew Mobagi (11) & Mason Sebasky (11) - 9th place
• Reese Kasper (11) & Savannah Paul (11) - 10th place
• Brayden Gillen (12) & Christian Jordan (12) - 11th place

Financial Services Team Role Play

• Alex Rice (10) & Lauren Russ (10) - 4th place
• Chloe Rice (12) & Jagger Wittine (11) - 5th place
• Colter Applegate (12) & Clark Hanson (12) - 6th place
• Kellan Goetz (10) & Gavin Lamey (10) - 7th place
• Gavin Kevitt (10) & Dillon Peterson (10) - 10th place

Hospitality Services Team Role Play

• Kylee Pierson (11) & Adrianna Sullivan (11) - 6th place
• Luke Markstrom (12) & Charlie Paul (12) - 9th place
• Jacob Orenge (11) & Alan Zuniga (11) - 11th place

Marketing Communications Team Role Play

• Sammy Krahl (12) & Natalie Miner (12) - 2nd place
• George Pettitt (10) & Luke Sunnarborg (10) - 8th place
• Elliott Lang (11) & Gavin Roerig (11) - 9th place

Sports & Entertainment Team Role Play

• Jack Hall (12) & Jack Moch (12) - 9th place
• George Eberhart (11) & Mason Lilledahl (11) - 10th place

Travel and Tourism Team Role Play

• Rachel Erickson (12) & Sage Finck (12) - 3rd place
• Addison Eaton (11) & Whittney Wellumson (11) - 12th place

Integrated Marketing Campaign – Event (Paper)

• Hannah Christenson (10) & Brenna Vogel (10) - 1st place
• Alicia Clobes (11), Maya Lada (11) & Taryn Peglow (11) - 4th place
• August Lang (9) & Elliott Lang (11) - 7th place
• Jake Berg (10), Leif Hagen (10) & Isaac Paul (12) - 8th place
• Suzie Marth (10) - 9th place

Integrated Marketing Campaign – Product (Paper)

• Lauren Velander (11) - 1st place
• Addison Bryan (9) & Ella McClellan (9) - 3rd place
• Savannah Paul (11), Keeley Winther (10) & Zoe Wood (10) - 4th place
• Cerisa Bray (10) & Delaney Hendrix (10) - 7th place
• Mia Abernethy (10), Sienna Dehmer (10) & Maria Neumann (10) - 8th place

Integrated Marketing Campaign – Service (Paper)

• Ajay Kirmeier (11), Rohan Nella (11) & Jagger Wittine (11) - 4th place
• Annika Hagen (9) & Valerie Mobagi (9) - 5th place
• Aubrey Bruckner (9) & Ellie Schaefer (9) - 8th place
• Maria Sells (10) & Devon Simpson (10) - 12th place

Start-Up Business Plan (Paper)

• Hailey Lockwood (12), Mason Merritt (10) & Chloe Rice (12) - 1st place
• Gabriella Larsen (12), Isabella Larsen (10) & Roman Larsen (11) - 2nd place
• Addison Eaton (11) & Whittney Wellumson (11) - 5th place
• Aleksandr Barnes (12), Jack Hall (12) & Jack Moch (12) - 7th place

Innovation Plan (Paper)

• Sydney Carlin (10), Lizzy Huls (10) & Kaitlyn Lazenby (10) - 1st place
• Maddie Carlson (9), Marissa Nelson (12) & Lily Titler (10) - 4th place
• Drew Carlson (9), Brendan Rashleger (9) & Owen Trost (9) - 8th place
• Ella Salvati (9) & Madeline Witte (11) - 9th place

Franchise Business Plan (Paper)

• Ali Butler (10) & Allison Kreiser (10) - 5th place
• Isaac Aud (11), Mason Lilledahl (11) & Gavin Roerig (11) - 8th place
• Claire Buetow (9) & Sadie Ottenbreit (9) - 10th place

Independent Business Plan (Paper)

• Max Anderson (12), Ryan Hempel (12) & Colter Applegate (12) - 2nd place

International Business Plan (Paper)

• Carly Durr (10), George Pettitt (10) & Luke Sunnarborg (10) - 3rd place

Business Growth Plan (Paper)

• Addison Nash (12) & Lizzy Nash (9) - 1st place

Business Services Operations Research (Paper)

• Caryn Childers (12) & Avery Olson (11) - 1st place
• Ruby Finck (11), Sabrina Kaganovsky (11) & Brenden Sexton (11) - 4th place
• Sophia Reimer (11) & Peyton Schmidt (11) - 12th place

Buying and Merchandising Operations Research (Paper)

• Cole Drill (11), Matthew Mobagi (11) & Mason Sebasky (11) - 1st place
• Charlotte Mitlying (11) & Claire Rashleger (11) - 2nd place
• Jack Markstrom (12), Johnny Range (12) & Rocco Zahasky (12) - 5th place
• Luke Carlson (11) & Tor Erdahl (11) - 6th place
• Edie Hollenstein (10) & Ellie Putnam (11) - 7th place
• Brayden Gillen (12), Christian Jordan (12) & Cohen Scholten (12) - 10th place

Financial Operations Research (Paper)

• Reese Kasper (11) & Camille Ness (11) - 2nd place
• Clark Hanson (12) & Ian Santoski (12) - 3rd place

Hospitality & Tourism Operations Research (Paper)

• Audrey Kirscht (11) & Sara Sipprell (11) - 2nd place
• Sophia Kravchenko (10), Alex Rice (10) & Lauren Russ (10) - 3rd place
• Sage Finck (12), Zoe Lada (12) & Anna Olson (12) - 6th place
• Noah Huesmann (10) & Dillon Peterson (10) - 12th place

Sports & Entertainment Operations Research (Paper)

• Luke Markstrom (12), Charlie Paul (12) & Michael Proulx (12) - 2nd place
• Georgia Harmer (10) & Sydney Reier (10) - 3rd place
• Alissa Brandt (12) & Linsey Lemire (12) - 4th place
• Piper Landsman (11), Alexa Leonard (11) & Gracie O’Halloran (11) - 5th place
• Claudio Lopez (9) & Oliver Trombley (10) - 10th place

Hospitality & Tourism Professional Selling

• Cassie Nemecek (12) - 12th place

Professional Selling Event

• Liam Biermann (11) - 2nd place
• Jaicy Hamrick (9) - 6th place
• Grayson Van Nelson (11) - 8th place

Financial Consulting Professional Selling

• Leon Kravchenko (10) - 3rd place
• Jaden Christ (11) - 5th place
• Jacob Orenge (11) - 7th place
• Chase Lee (9) - 9th place
• James Marth (9) - 10th place

Employment Interview Entry Level

• Gavin Kevitt (10) - 11th place

Employment Interview Advanced Level

• Alan Zuniga (11) - 11th place

Sales Demonstration Hard

• Sky Nienaber (9) - 5th place
• Spencer Putnam (9) - 8th place
• Hayden Dehmer (10) - 10th place
• Julian Herkelman (9) - 12th place

Sales Demonstration General

• Bryce Helms (12) - 4th place
• Bette Mae Grogan (10) - 5th place
• Elise Orenge (9) - 7th place
• Aaliyah Lilledahl (9) - 10th place
• Sean Dolder (10) - 11th place

Sales Demonstration Soft

• Chloe Patterson (10) - 3rd place
• Adele Childers (9) - 4th place
• Marshall Morrison (12) - 5th place
• Jillian O’Mara (10) - 8th place

Project Events Advancing to State

• School-Based Enterprise – Hailey Lockwood (12) & Chloe Rice (12)
• Gold Chapter Campaign – Olivia Adam (12) & Sammy Krahl (12)
• Business Solutions Chapter Project – Olivia Adam (12) & Gab Larsen (12)
• Career Development Chapter Project – Natalie Miner (12) & Stella Miner (11)
• Community Awareness Project – Anna Borg (11), Addison Nash (12) & Maquinna Peglow (12)
• Sales Chapter Project – Marissa Nelson (12), Gracie O’Halloran (11) & Mikey Oftedahl (12)
• Financial Literacy Chapter Project – Rachel Erickson (12), Kendra Mattson (12) & Maisie Wheeler (12)
• Community Giving Chapter Project – Emma Carlson (11) & Sammy Krahl (12)