The Uintah High School DECA chapter had 14 students attend the International Career Development Conference, held April 23-28 in Louisville, Ky.

The students competed in role plays, chapter projects, individual projects, and a leadership academy. They qualified to attend this conference by placing in the top three in their event at the state DECA competition.

Joleen Cottrell, the DECA advisor said, “Each year our chapter ranks high at the state competition. We have the opportunity to work with outstanding students who are dedicated to our DECA program.”

This year the chapter held a food drive within the schools and donated thousands of pounds of food to the Ashley Valley Food Pantry. They also raised awareness of the problems with juvenile diabetes in the Uintah Basin and sought funds for area youth.

The chapter also taught classes at the junior high on entrepreneurship. Students also created advertising campaigns, business plans and fashion promotional plans which ranked high in the state.

Students representing Uintah High School this year in Louisville were: Sara McQuivey, Apparel and Accessories Role Play; Dallin Siddoway, Principles of Finance; Steffany Beddes, Principles of Hospitality and Tourism; Kristie Francisco, Retail Merchandising; Melinda Checketts and William Maguire, Buying and Merchandising Team Role Play; Matt Cottrell, Entrepreneurship Participating Event; Kelsey Hughes, Fashion Promotional Plan; Rhet Gardner, Hanah Toone and Robin Tucker, Entrepreneurship Promotional Plan; Jenny Hall and Amelia McCurdy, Public Relations Project; and Eli Hutt, Leadership Training.

At the international competition, there are approximately 14,000 competitors who have earned the honor of competing by placing at the top in their state.

This year, Sara McQuivey was awarded second place in the Apparel and Accessories Role Play; Steffany Beddes placed eighth in the Principles of Hospitality and Tourism Role Play; and Kristie Francisco placed in the top 20 in the Retail Merchandising Role Play.

Next year the national competition will be held in Orlando, Fla., from April 30-May 3.