A mere two years ago, hardly any Har-Ber High student knew what DECA was. Now DECA has quickly become one of Har-Ber’s most popular club organizations.

This led to Har-Ber DECA Advisor, Arianna Langford taking one of her largest groups of competitors to this year’s Arkansas State DECA Competition Feb. 24-25.

“I think DECA has become so big lately because it’s very fun and you get to miss school,” said senior DECA member Philip Wies.

Wies was among the 23 Har-Ber students who competed at the DECA State Competition in Little Rock.

Har-Ber DECA members spent all day on Feb. 24 competing in various team or individual business/marketing events.

“Having to compete all day on Sunday was intense,” said senior DECA member Corey Evans.

The different types of competitions that students could have competed in ranged from written entries, role-play events, or an oral presentation. All of the different categories had questions that pertained to either the management or advertising aspects of companies. The students were required to dress in business-attire and had to present their project to a panel of judges who are business majors.

To qualify for this year’s National DECA Competition in Anaheim, CA, students had to place in the top three of their competition. This year, there was over 300 students and 20 different high schools from across Arkansas who competed in hopes of being able to qualify for Nationals.

This year’s DECA members who will represent Har-Ber include junior Brady Blackwell and seniors Cassidy Kendrick, Lucian Ek, Hayden Redmond, and Blake Williams.

“It will be fun to go to Nationals with my friends,” said Ek. “We plan to get rowdy.”

Kendrick will not only be competing in her individual event, but she will also be representing the whole state of Arkansas as the Vice President of Membership.

To help fund their trip to Nationals in Anaheim, CA, the DECA members will soon start a various amount of fundraisers throughout the school.