Junior Kori Martin was elected Washington DECA state president at the Washington DECA State Competition March 5-7. Martin is the first Wenatchee student to be elected State President since 1965.

“I’m really excited to have this opportunity, it’s something I’m really proud of and I’m looking forward to bettering Washington DECA. I couldn’t have done it without my officer team and all of Wenatchee DECA; everyone pitched in some way,” Martin said.

Martin and Megan Jay were first-place winners for the WHS DECA team in their individual events and qualified, along with 11 other WHS students, for International DECA in April. As a team, Wenatchee DECA placed sixth overall out of 160 DECA programs in Washington state.

With dedication, time, money, her friends, and family, Martin was successful in her campaign efforts. She had posters created, a Twitter page, custom made bracelets, candies, and chocolate bars.

“I had to do a 100-point test, and interview, then an application I had to fill out. I did a lot of campaigning, I spent about $500 on this, and I got sponsors in Wenatchee to help pay. I also gave a speech in front of 3,800 people,” Martin said. “It went really well, and not only was I campaigning but I also got to meet a lot of people in Washington DECA, which was cool.”

Forty-eight WHS students participated at the Washington State Career Development Conference in Bellevue. There were more than 3,700 high school DECA students who attended the conference. Each were competing for the chance to qualify for International DECA Conference in Orlando by placing in the top seven in the event they prepared for.

The following 13 students have qualified to attend the International DECA conference in Orlando.

1st – Kori Martin – Human Resources Management

1st – Megan Jay – Principles of Hospitality & Tourism

2nd – Austin Boese – Automotive Services

2nd – Vivian Noyd – Entrepreneurship Participating Franchising

2nd – Israel Sixto – Fashion Merchandising Promotion Plan

2nd – Edan Patterson & Olesya Plukchi – Hospitality Services Team

3rd – Miles Letts-Brandt & Wallace O’Donnell – Business Law & Ethics Team

3rd – Matthew Tangeman – Marketing Management

5th – Chase Davidson – Business Services

5th – Vivian Noyd – Quick Service Restaurant Management

6th – Kori Martin – Buying & Merchandising Operations Research Plan

7th – Devyn Blakney – Apparel & Accessories

7th – Abby Davison – Food Marketing