College and Career Institute DECA members kicked off the school year with a football tailgate focused on the upcoming competition season. Organizers introduced the theme “Tackling DECA Role Plays” as members prepared for a year of competition, leadership and opportunities.

Students connected DECA and marketing vocabulary with football terminology to make the role-play process more engaging and easier to understand.

“While the theme was fun, the purpose behind the meeting was much bigger,” said Savannah Ray-Lloret, marketing teacher and DECA advisor at the College and Career Institute.

The first regional competition is Dec. 9, where students will participate in a role-play event judged by a local business professional. They will receive a real-world business problem, analyze the situation, develop a solution and present their recommendations to the judge.

“We’re ready to hit the field, work together, and go for the win,” said Ray-Llorret.

Overall, these experiences allow students to apply the marketing concepts they learn in the classroom to real-world business situations. They also develop valuable employability skills such as communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, professionalism, confidence and the ability to think on their feet — skills that will serve them well beyond DECA.

“Our students have big goals this year,” emphasized Ray-Lloreet. “They are working toward advancing from Region Competition to State Competition and, ultimately, to the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Anaheim, California, in April 2027. Starting preparation early and making competition feel exciting rather than intimidating is an important part of building the foundation for success.”

Ray-Lloret expressed gratitude to all of the student leaders who helped make the meeting possible, including co-presidents Axel Mercado and Matthew Crawford and vice president of competition Augustine Stapleton.

“Each of these students has experienced success through DECA competition, and they are now using that experience to help prepare and encourage their peers,” she said. “Their willingness to step into leadership and share what they have learned is exactly what we hope to see from our DECA members."