The clubs, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), are designed to gauge students interested in business and education. These clubs allow students to gain early access to careers they may want to pursue after graduation.

FBLA

This club focuses on self-employment and creativity amongst those interested in sales and marketing. It challenges students to make a claim that can turn into a business and judges decide which ones will realistically have the biggest impact.

“There are about 100 events that students can choose from including objective tests, presentation events, role play events, production events, and chapter events,” FBLA sponsor Michelle Brinker said. “Students sign up for a competition in November, then take the tests or get their events ready in December. The top two in the presentation role play and production go to state and the top five in objective tests go to state.”

With so many opportunities for students to explore, this program allows for large numbers of students to make it to state competitions.

“I [got] first place for digital video production, [and] I got second place for PSA,” senior Benjamin Kirubakaran said. “We had to make a video that was covering the background of a person that was in FBLA already, and our PSA was about cyberbullying.”

DECA

Their main goal is to fund and support business and marketing for young people, according to navadadeca.org.

“When we [went to the Crown Center for state], we got on the bus around 5:00 p.m. and our tests were 100 multiple choice questions,” junior Jack O’Dell said. “[The second day], they give us a prompt [and] 10 minutes to prepare. Then we had 10 minutes to write a speech, prepare and then they'll give you 10 minutes to give that speech to a judge. We would have two of those that day and then we’d be done the next day when they would have the award ceremony.”

DECA’s main focus is public speaking and presentations. This aids students to gain public speaking skills for jobs in the future.

“DECA is perfect for students concurrently enrolled in a marketing class and is suitable for students interested in careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management,” DECA sponsor Carey Gough said. “If anyone is interested in joining our chapter, I highly recommend taking Marketing Foundations or Advanced Marketing to maximize their experience in this amazing organization.”