There were two Moniteau County high school students among the 16 recently named state officers for the HYPERLINK "http://dese.mo.gov/divcareered/deca.htm" Missouri Association of DECA. Callie Loganbill, Tipton, and Courtland Gerhart, California, along with the other officers were elected and installed during the Missouri DECA Fall Leadership and State Officer Election Conference held Oct. 14-15 in Lake Ozark. More than 650 high school marketing students and teachers attended.
The 2012-13 executive state officers include: Loganbill, president, Tipton High School, Tipton; Rachelle Engen, vice president-advocacy, Odessa High School, Odessa; Mallory Lanser, vice president-communications, El Dorado Springs High School, El Dorado Springs; and Allison Berry, vice president-community service, Holt High School, Wentzville.
The 2012-13 district vice presidents include: Christian Derra, District 1, Park Hill High School, Kansas City; Ronald Williams, District 2, Moberly Area Tech Center, Moberly; Adriana Solomon, District 3, Belton High School, Belton; Morgan Whitlock, District 4, Odessa High School, Odessa; Gerhart, District 5, California High School, California; Courtney Jones, District 6, Holt Sr. High School, Wentzville; Julie Mullineaux, District 7, Pattonville High School, Maryland Heights; Mary Lumley, District 8, Parkway West High School, Ballwin; Jessica Reed, District 9, Affton High School, St. Louis; Tai Thrasher, District 10, Lamar Career and Tech Center, Lamar; Sean Pyle, District 11, Ozark High School, Ozark; and Earl Madison, District 12, Sikeston High School, Sikeston.
The new officers were determined on the basis of their written test, screening and nominating committee interview, and number of ballots cast by the voting delegates after delivering their campaign speech during the election session. Serving as a state officer provides DECA members the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and professionalism that is essential for a successful career.
HYPERLINK "http://www.deca.org/" DECA is an international association of high school students studying marketing, finance, hospitality and management. The state affiliate of the DECA Inc. organization is the Career and Technical Student Organization for Missouri. Missouri DECA ranks sixth in the nation in membership with more than 8,500 members. There are 12 DECA districts and 179 DECA chapters in Missouri.