Led by senior president Sophia Jorgensen, DECA continues to excel, with students recently competing at States and 16 moving onto Internationals.

With over 175 student participants, DECA is Algonquin’s largest extracurricular organization. Members, interested in marketing, finance, hospitality and management, participate in competitions including projects, exams and business-style roleplays. 

Jorgensen organizes members and manages the officers, as well as prepares the club for upcoming events. She is proud of students’ accomplishments in DECA. 

“A large number of people did end up placing [at States] and continuing [on to Internationals],” Jorgensen said. “I think it was great to see that because last year we were virtual.” 

At DECA competitions, students are given opportunities to not only compete against students from across the state and ultimately the globe, but also to network with professionals and receive advice from their advisers. Match teacher and DECA adviser Lauren Hesemeyer enjoys sharing her knowledge with students apart from her job as a math teacher.

“DECA supplies the students with not only a professional experience, but it also is helping them learn how to network with professionals,” Hesemeyer said.

 Jorgensen, who will be attending Internationals herself, said she has grown as a person due to her involvement in this club. She almost quit DECA as a freshman but Applied Arts Department Chair Patricia Riley, one of the advisers, convinced her to stick with it.

“Over the four years I’ve been involved in DECA, I definitely gained confidence,” Jorgensen, who is competing in the Integrated Marketing Campaign Product Project this year, said. “I’ve gained on-the-spot thinking skills.”

Jorgensen works hard alongside both advisers, Riley and Hesemeyer, to make sure DECA runs smoothly. Hesemeyer is extremely proud of Jorgensen’s work as DECA president.

“She has truly been Mrs. Riley and myself’s rock throughout this crazy year of DECA,” Hesemeyer said via email.“Her leadership and communication skills most certainly set her apart from any student leader I’ve worked with before.” 

DECA members who placed top of their category, now move on to ICDC, which will take place on April 23-27 in Atlanta, Georgia. Students competing at ICDC include seniors Sophia Jorgensen, Jack McCue, Charlotte Roiter, Amy Sullivan, Hannah Thompson and Megan Tucker; juniors David Burmeister, Joseph Folsom, Tucker Gauvin, Rajat Lakkapragada, Gavin Moran, Adrien Moulin and Henry Zhao; sophomore Sylvia Gaskamp, and three additional students attending the workshops.