On Saturday, December 14, Brookfield Central’s DECA chapter traveled to Racine to compete in the highly anticipated annual District competition. The event gathered students from over 20 high schools in the Milwaukee area for a day dedicated to professional development, business presentations, and networking opportunities. Each participant aimed to qualify for the prestigious 2025 Wisconsin State Career Development Conference (SCDC), which is traditionally held at the Grand Geneva Resort.
Brookfield Central DECA brought over 90 members to Districts, solidifying its position as one of the largest chapters in attendance. The competition offered individual and team competitions and the chance for teams to showcase their skills in one of four major clusters: Finance, Marketing, Business Administration, and Hospitality & Tourism. Prior to the in-person event, competitors completed a 100-question multiple-choice exam in their selected cluster.
The competition itself required participants to engage in two spontaneous business roleplay scenarios. Each roleplay was judged based on creativity, problem-solving, and professionalism. After hours of rigorous competition, students took a break to enjoy lunch and socialize with their peers, providing a much-needed moment of relaxation while judges calculated scores. The scoring process combined performance on the written exam, roleplays, and overall presentation to determine the top performers in each event.
The award session was held when score tabulation for every event participant was finished. During the announcements, each competitor eagerly awaited to be called onstage and hoped to receive medals and/or trophies for recognition.
Brookfield Central DECA ended up pulling off a triumphant success, with 44 students placing Top 3 at Districts and qualifying for SCDC. Remaining competitors won “Wildcard” spots based on high test scores and exceptional performance. Successful members were very thrilled with their achievements and the chance to compete at State. One SCDC qualifier stated, “I look forward to growing my business skills and meeting new Wisconsin DECA competitors at state!”
Currently, the BC DECA state team is diligently working on their required research papers, aiming to perform well at SCDC and gain a spot on the nationals team. This year, the annual International Career Development Conference (ICDC) will be held in Orlando, Florida towards the end of April. Many past national qualifiers have stated that Brookfield Central’s ICDC trips are not only educational but also extremely fun, so students are motivated to try their best for state. Good luck, BC DECA!
