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DECA students qualify for internationals

February 15, 2023

Northwood University is proud to announce 15 of its DECA students have qualified to compete at an international competition later this spring.

“I am extremely proud of how well our students conducted themselves and performed earlier this month at Michigan DECA’s State Career Development Conference,” stated Advisor Patrick McElgunn.

The Northwood University DECA team traveled to Kalamazoo Feb 3-5 to compete in held at the Radisson Plaza Hotel.

“The Northwood Idea was on full display throughout the competition, and we are elated to have 15 of our students moving on to internationals in April,” McElgunn noted, referencing Northwood’s guiding philosophy, The Northwood Idea, which values freedom, liberty and individual responsibility.

With 35 students, Northwood had the highest participation of any school competing in Kalamazoo.

“We competed against schools such as Central Michigan University, Cleary University, Davenport University, Delta College, Eastern Michigan University, Kettering University, Western Michigan University, Michigan State University, and Michigan Technological University,” McElgunn explained.

DECA is an association of marketing students that encourages the development of business and leadership skills through academic conferences and competitions. It prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

The international competition is scheduled for April 15-19 in Orlando, Florida. The Northwood students who qualified for this competition include:

• Jessica Bromberg, Pinconning

• Kate Frank, Midland

• Pietro Vitale, Woodhaven

• Vanessa Collins, Clio

• Molly Dickinson, Alpena

• Charlee Simanskey, Midland

• Mitchel Boggs, Loveland, Ohio

• Austin Leverage, Lebanon, Ohio

• Alex Nazarian, Shelby Township

• Teagan O’Bryan, Lapeer

• Ethan Ward, Jenison

• Wilson Bragg, Gladwin

• Mackenzie Carter, Leonard

• Lauren Waiss, Sturtevant, Wisconsin

• Gavin Wargel, Alanson

“We are all looking forward to representing Northwood University and Michigan DECA on the international stage in just a few short months,” McElgunn stated.

For more information about Northwood DECA, visit https://www.northwood.edu/student-life/organizations/deca

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