Over spring break, a group of DECA students spent three days in Kansas City at the State Career Development Conference and came home with a school record 15 state finalists.
Many of the participants felt like the event was a blur of nerves, excitement, and inside jokes that probably won’t make sense to anyone who wasn’t there.
The second everyone walked into the conference center, it hit them just how big the event really was. Thousands of students from all over Missouri were rushing around in business clothes, clutching notebooks, trying to look calm even though most of them were in most cases freaking out on the inside.
The days were packed. Students were constantly moving from prep rooms to competition rooms to award ceremonies, sometimes barely having time to grab food.
“All of our students represented us exceptionally well,” DECA advisor Robyn Taylor said. Out of the 20 students who competed, 15 ended up as state finalists, which is the most ever at Liberty.
“This is the highest number ever for Liberty High School,” Taylor said. “We are excited to share that 12 students have advanced to the International Competition in Atlanta.”
What people don’t see are the times right before a role play, when you’re sitting in the prep room, staring at your prompt and trying not to panic.
Manya Karthik (9) knows that feeling. She competed in Principles of Business Administration, which meant taking a test and then doing a role play with a judge.
“The beginning of my roleplay went smoothly,” Karthik said. Her scenario was about an apartment complex lowering lease prices because they were struggling to get tenants. Even though she started strong, she admitted it wasn’t perfect. “I personally struggled on trying not to repeat the same words over and over again,” Karthik said.
When the judge asked questions, she rushed her answers. “Next time, I will be sure to take some time and make sure I answer correctly,” Karthik said. Still, she earned a Top 10 medal and qualified for Internationals, which made all the stress worth it.
For some students, the best part wasn’t even the competition. Jackson Adams (11), who competed with Ben Filla (11) in Hospitality and Tourism Team Decision Making, said the trip ended up being way more fun than he expected.
“It was a lot of fun,” Adams said. He talked about how the event helped him get closer to people he didn’t know as well before. “I definitely bonded with some people and performed well,” Adams said.
DECA President Rathi Thiagarajan (12) said the whole trip had a positive vibe. “The trip was a lot of fun, filled with laughter, and many of us won awards,” Thiagarajan said. Between cheering each other on at awards, running into friends from other schools, and hanging out in the hotel between events, the weekend was unforgettable.
The conference itself was huge, louder, brighter, and way more intense than most people expect. Missouri DECA is part of a national organization with nearly 300,000 members, so every award was big deal. Students competed in everything from roleplay based business scenarios to written entrepreneurship projects, and facing tough competition from across the state.
The 12 students heading to Atlanta for nationals are: Jackson Adams (11), Tanaya Ananda‑Krishnadu (11), Logan Bedford (10), JP Burton (12), Ben Filla (11), Tanmayee Gogineni (11), Manya Karthik (9), Landon Kerr (10), Sara Ruhl (12), Ben Schormann (11), Hannah Siciliano (11), and Kaylee Skinner (12). Several others, Deveshisai Chitturi (11), Jillian Fisher (12), Elizabeth Quinney (12), Ashlyn Stafford (12), and Rathi Thiagarajan (12), were named international finalists.
