Eight Barton School students to compete at National DECA competition

The Collegiate DECA chapter at Wichita State University continues to showcase the remarkable talent of its students. DECA, an international association connecting students to business and professional development opportunities, saw the WSU team compete in a statewide competition in Hillsboro, Kansas, on February 23^rd. Eight WSU students won eleven medals qualifying them for the upcoming national competition in Austin, Texas, from April 20^th to 23^rd:

George Giem: First place in Corporate Finance
Maley Hansen and Grace Skelton: Third place in the Marketing Communications team event
Maley Hansen: Second place in Marketing Management
Nathan Holloway: First place in Hotel and Lodging, Second place in Restaurant and Food Service Management
Raven McPherson and Valishia Landrum: Second place in the Event Planning team event
Raven McPherson: Second place in Human Resource Management
Ronish Rasaily: First place in Travel and Tourism, Second place in Hotel and Lodging
Tayshaun Washington: First place in Financial Accounting, Second place in Corporate Finance

“Seeing our students excel on such a competitive stage is a testament to their hard work and dedication,” said Pattie Bradley, the group’s faculty advisor as well as the Barton School's Associate Educator in Economics. “Nathan, Tayshaun, and Raven are part of the original students who started DECA at the Barton School in 2022, and they are graduating this spring. Their success, and the success of the entire chapter, not only reflects their individual talents but also speaks volumes about their leadership. We're eagerly anticipating nationals in Austin and I am confident they will continue to make us proud.”

Collegiate DECA at Wichita State is seeking sponsors to help the students offset travel costs to the national competition. Any individual or business interested in becoming a sponsor can email Pattie Bradley at patricia.bradley@wichita.edu and be a part of nurturing the next generation of business leaders. With such exceptional talent and dedication, WSU's DECA chapter is poised to leave an indelible mark on the national stage once again.

About the Barton School of Business

The W. Frank Barton School of Business is the home of real and applied learning. A place where students apply knowledge gained from faculty and business leaders while developing professional and life skills. The Barton School is among the top 1% of business schools worldwide, with double AACSB accreditation in business and accounting. The school is housed in an award-winning building, Woolsey Hall, which serves as a cornerstone for challenging yet supportive educational opportunities. Woolsey Hall also features remarkable artwork, sculptures, gardens and The Promise Bridge, a 300-foot-long pedestrian bridge over the water in front of the building.