On Jan. 14, 2026, DECA, a club dedicated to helping high school students explore business, sent 63 students to compete in regionals. Of those competitors, 51 advanced to the state level, surpassing any previous DECA year at PMHS. Additionally, eight students placed first in their respective business categories, marking a milestone for the club.
Going into DECA competitions, students have the option to work with a partner or compete individually, while also selecting a specific category to specialize in. “I partnered with Olivia Shewmaker, and we competed in the Marketing Management category,” junior Vedika Sharma said. At the competition, participants were challenged to think quickly and apply their knowledge under pressure. “At regionals, we were given a case study and had 15 minutes to review it together, prepare our presentation, and answer the questions in the case study. After that, we presented to 1–2 judges and answered any questions they had, which took about 10 minutes,” Sharma said. With only 10 teams advancing out of 20 competitors in their category, the competition was intense. “The competition was really tough… so it feels really rewarding to have made it,” Sharma said. For Sharma, advancing to state stood out as a defining moment in her DECA career.
While competition plays a central role in DECA, many students also view the organization as a place to build skills that extend beyond the event itself. Junior Van Dawt Sung sees DECA as an opportunity to gain practical experience and prepare for her future. “To me, DECA means a way for students to practice real-world business skills, build confidence, and turn classroom knowledge into hands-on experience through competition and leadership,” Sung said. With aspirations in business, Sung views DECA as a meaningful way to develop confidence.
Sung and her partner Mang Dim are both first year DECA students and placed first in their cluster. Their success came as a surprise, especially given their limited experience. “It meant a lot to us because it was our first time doing this event and we weren’t as experienced as some of the other competitors. When we found out we got first we were really shocked and extremely happy and it made the experience even more meaningful,” Sung said. As they prepare for the state competition, Sung and Dim are focusing on studying for the test portion of the event and practicing scenarios to strengthen their presentation skills.
This year highlighted the success of several first-year members, including senior Rose Par, who joined DECA during her final year of high school to step outside her comfort zone. Through the experience, Par discovered both a passion and a skill set she hopes to pursue in the future. “As someone who wants to minor in business, I see DECA as a glimpse of what the business world would like and how it works— especially when it comes to speaking professionally and the preparation that comes with it,” she said. Par and her partner, Lydia Tlin, placed first in the Hospitality and Tourism cluster and are preparing to compete at the state level.
Par’s interest in business extends beyond competition and into her involvement with the Falcon Store, where she has found a sense of belonging and responsibility. “One of my favorite parts is working in the falcon store because I’m a part of something,” Par said. Through both competition and hands-on experience, Par has been able to connect her interests to real-world experiences.
As DECA prepares for the upcoming state competition, this year’s achievements reflect more than just high placement numbers. The record-breaking results highlight the dedication, growth and confidence of DECA students across all grade levels.
