Seven Kettering University DECA students earned top honors at the 2016 International Career Development Conference in Washington, D.C. in April.

A total of 12 students attended the conference and the group left with one first place award, a third place award and two Top 10 awards.

“It was so exciting to see over half of my chapter receive an award. However, I am still very proud of the the students that weren’t acknowledged on stage because they’re a very dedicated and talented group of individuals,” said Madeline Geffert ‘19, B-Section DECA president.

Calloway Salmon received First Place in the Entrepreneurship Challenge and was a recipient of $5,000. Michelle Michailuk and Thomas Swanson received Third Place in Entrepreneurship - Growing Your Business.

Geffert and her partner Alexander Witt received Top 10 in Emerging Technology Marketing Strategies. And Troy DeLong and Harschal Patel received Top 10 in Business to Business Marketing.

There are more than 15,000 Collegiate DECA members. DECA is designed to prepare students to be emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.

Kettering students were tested on their interview skills and resumes, role-played as industry professionals and did case studies with problem solving. There was also prepared events in front of judges where students present a business plan for entrepreneurship, how to grow their small business or create an advertising plan for a product, for example.

“My partner Alex and I competed in a prepared event, so over the past several months, he and I compiled data, formulated a strategy for our presentation, and had to start-to-finish brand an organization,” said Geffert, a Business Administration major. “Every year I do DECA I feel as if I’m leaving with more confidence as a student and business professional because the competition oftentimes makes you step outside of your comfort zone.

“These conferences put you in a very unique environment. Every year I meet new likeminded individuals all striving toward a similar goal, and judges who are oftentimes well connected businesspeople, so I usually leave with a lot of valuable contacts.”

In February, 18 Kettering students left the 2016 Michigan Collegiate DECA Career Development Conference with 18 awards, including five first place awards.