Nine Northwood University students are set to compete at the Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, following the Michigan Collegiate DECA State Career Development Conference, Feb. 7-8, in Bay City.
A total of 32 Northwood students competed against top DECA talent from universities across Michigan — including Northern Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Cleary University, Kettering University, Delta College, Central Michigan University, University of Michigan, Oakland University, and Western Michigan University.
Northwood’s competitors secured four first-place and four second-place awards, plus one third-place award and nine finalist finishes.
“I am incredibly proud of our students and how they represented the university,” said Chapter Advisor Patrick McElgunn. “As collegiate DECA continues to grow across the state of Michigan, our students consistently rise to the challenge. They truly demonstrated their education in action, and we look forward to representing not only Northwood University but also the state of Michigan at the international conference in April.”
Northwood students earned honors in the following categories (Nos. 1-3 will compete at the international conference):
- Laramie Wixson of Rosebush, Michigan — No. 1 in Financial Accounting
- Emma Balsinger of Barberton, Ohio — No. 1 in Business Research
- Lila Bolden of Petoskey, Michigan — No. 1 in Business Research
- Kamrin Van’t Hof of Wayland, Michigan — No. 1 in Corporate Finance
- Ethan Ward of Jenison, Michigan — No. 2 in Financial Accounting
- Kennedy Polzin of White Lake, Michigan — No. 2 in Advertising Campaign
- Nick Porter of Commerce Township, Michigan — No. 2 in Advertising Campaign
- Aaron Viera of Commerce Township, Michigan — No. 2 in Advertising Campaign
- Parker Fettig of Petoskey, Michigan — No. 3 in Financial Accounting
- Jessica Bromberg of Pinconning, Michigan — Finalist in Business Research
- Gianna Colley of Howell, Michigan — Finalist in Business Research
- Josh Smith of Howell, Michigan — Finalist in Business Research
- Evan Baker of Grandville, Michigan — Finalist in Professional Sales
- Zaylee Hincka of Howell, Michigan — Finalist in Financial Accounting
- Olivia Agnew of Fraser, Michigan — Finalist in Restaurant and Food Service Management
- Carlos Cedillo of Waterford, Michigan — Finalist in Retail Management
- Drew Cady of Lake Orion, Michigan — Finalist in Sports Marketing
- Korbin Sulitis of Petoskey, Michigan — Finalist in Sports Marketing
DECA is a nonprofit organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in business. Through competitive events, leadership development, and networking opportunities, Collegiate DECA empowers students to apply classroom learning in real-world business scenarios.
For information about Northwood’s DECA Chapter, visit www.northwood.edu/student-life/organizations/deca/ or email .
