On January 25, 282 Wayzata DECA students began their day early as they competed in the DECA District-level competition. Wayzata High School served as the host for District 7, bringing together seven schools for competition: Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Orono, St.Louis Park, Southwest Christian, Eagle Ridge Academy, and Wayzata. Throughout the day, the campus buzzed with energy as approximately 770 students across the seven schools competed, collaborated, and showcased their business skills.
Wayzata DECA experienced remarkable success. A total of 196 Wayzata members qualified for the State Career Development Conference with 50 students earning section titles—setting a new chapter record and highlighting the strength of the program.
Beyond the impressive results, Districts served as a meaningful and enriching experience for participants, especially newer members. “It was a great experience for my first year. I really enjoyed meeting new people and the rigor of competition, ” said first-year member Sarah Hong.
Overall, the event fostered growth, connection, and excitement as Wayzata DECA members prepared to advance to the next level of competition.
The DECA State-level competition will take place downtown at the Minneapolis Marriott Hotel, where students will participate in an overnight conference. Building on its success at Districts, Wayzata DECA is entering the State competition with strong momentum and high expectations for achievement. The chapter’s record-breaking performance has set an optimistic tone as members prepare to compete against some of the top DECA students in Minnesota.
Reflecting on the chapter’s accomplishments, Vice President of Competition, Sarayu Gundla, expressed confidence in the team’s future. “Even under major changes and stressful competition, we still managed to break a chapter record. I can’t wait to see what’s next,” Gundla said.
With Districts behind them and State on the horizon, Wayzata DECA is ready to build on its success. The chapter’s hard work, adaptability, and commitment to excellence continue to drive its progress, setting the stage for another exciting and competitive showing at the State level.
