As the school year comes to an end many sports and activities compete in districts and move on to state competitions. Many Clubs in SCHS as well get a chance for this competition.
In A-building, tucked down the hall the business and accounting teachers have been preparing their members for competition all year. Judy Simmons, the marketing teacher, is the sponsor for the Distributive Education Clubs of America, DECA. Wendy Kirchoffer is the sponsor of the Future Business Leaders of America , FBLA. Simmmons and Kirchoffer work together and chaperone each other’s clubs, but while they do help each other out, their clubs are separate.
The DECA districts were held as UMSL Feb. 5. Out of the 35 members DECA sent to the competition, 18 members qualified, sending 60% of competing members to the state competition. At districts, there is a competition only 2 members of the entire district conference can win. This year, one of the two leadership delegates selected was sophomore Seth Wilson. Now instead of continuing to compete he will be attending workshops and leadership. With this accomplishment he will also be eligible to attend the ICDC, the International Career and Development Conference this coming spring.
Due to the Galley being gold certified for the third year in a row, senior Jayden Carey will also attend in representation of the school’s small business enterprise. At the ICDC Carey will attend a workshop about small business enterprises and present a 10 minute slide show to a judge about what the Galley does in terms of selling products, selecting them and upselling.
The DECA competitors will travel to Kansas City, Missouri, to compete in State March 22-24. While there the club will stay in a hotel with chaperones and engage in the competition as well as some ‘club-bonding’ outside at attractions like the trolley and the mall.
“All the students were so well behaved, they worked really hard and I was proud of every single one of them… they blow me away with their excitement and enthusiasm,” Simmons said.
Depending on where competitors lie they may compete at the national competition in Orlando, Florida toward the end of the semester.
After competing in their districts February 9 at the Mid Rivers Mall in St. Peters, FBLA will travel to Springfield, Missouri, April 12-14. FBLA is one of the largest clubs on campus and dominated the district competition qualifying 55 members to state. Many members have been in the program for many years and compete in the same events yearly.
“I’m excited to try again and try to do better,” senior Jacob Lawrence, competing in Financial Statement Analysis for the second year, said.
While attending state, the FBLA club members also typically take time to bond and plan on enjoying silver dollar city this trip. Senior Jason Razor has confidence in his peers and their responsibility as FBLA members and representatives of St. Charles High.
“I think it’s gonna go better than it did last year in terms of manners and safety and rules being followed,” Razor said.
