DECA travels to ICDC in California

Lewis-Palmer+DECA+students+have+fun+at+Disneyland+after+a+day+of+DECA+events.+

Lewis-Palmer DECA students have fun at Disneyland after a day of DECA events.

Rylee Newman, Ranger Review Sports Editor

Most high school students in DECA strive to attend the state DECA conference, but few actually attend. Even fewer DECA students qualify for the International Career Development Conference, also known as ICDC or nationals.
ICDC 2013 was from April 24 through April 27 in Anaheim, California at the Anaheim Conference Center. Sixteen thousand DECA students traveled to Cali for the international conference to compete in business type events and represent their state or country.
Lewis-Palmer High School had eleven students qualify for ICDC this year and represent Colorado. Colorado is one of the most competitive states in the United States at the international level.
At ICDC students not only participate in DECA events such as opening ceremonies, taking the cluster exam, competing in role plays and attending awards; but they also have plenty of time for fun. Students attending nationals this year were lucky enough that the conference was in California because the hotels were located 5 minutes from Disneyland and the beach was just a short drive away.
LPHS students left Tuesday the 23rd to fly out to California. On Wednesday, the students could choose to go to Disneyland or Universal Studios for the day. Later that night students, advisors, and guests attended the opening ceremonies.
Every student was excited to be there and many were excited to meet people from other countries and trade pins. Students from each state or country have their own pins that they trade for pins from other states. A fun goal to have at nationals is to collect pins from every state and country. Trading with other students is a great way to meet new people from different states and countries.
The day after opening ceremonies, students took the cluster exam and after the test students were free to have fun. LP students went to Disneyland after their tests.
Friday at ICDC is a big day due to the fact that all students compete in their role plays or present their presentations to the judges. After students are done competing they are free to go to Disneyland again, like the LP students, or relax by the pool.
The judge’s scores from presentations and role plays are combined with the cluster exam scores and the finalists are called on state at mini awards on Saturday morning. If someone makes finals they go on to compete again later that day.
LP senior Michelle Chan was the only student from LP to make finals this year. While Chan was competing in finals, other LP students relaxed by the pool or went to Disneyland. Later that night, all students gathered for the last time at the final awards and closing ceremonies.
Chan was called on stage with the top ten in her event. The top three were announced and the others in the top ten received a medallion but will get final results later in the week. The next day, LP students flew back to Colorado with memories from an unforgettable trip.