Twenty-one North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) Collegiate DECA members showcased their business acumen at the North Dakota Collegiate DECA Career Development Conference held at the Holiday Inn in Fargo on February 13-14, 2025. The competition brought together approximately 85 students from eight colleges and universities across North Dakota. 

Collegiate DECA is an international organization that prepares college and university students for careers in business. The organization’s programming engages students from a variety of academic disciplines, with a focus on business-related areas such as marketing, management, and entrepreneurship. Collegiate DECA activities complement and enhance students’ college curriculum. 

NDSCS students achieved impressive results during the North Dakota Conference, with numerous finalists qualifying to compete at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in San Francisco this April. 

Top award winners in individual events include:

• Torrie Mack – Finalist, Entrepreneurial Operations
• Ryan Otoole – 3rd Place, Entrepreneurial Operations
• Nicholas Langenwalter – 2nd Place, Entrepreneurial Operations
• Addison Gerdon – 2nd Place, Fashion Merchandising and Marketing
• Zoey Bohnenstingl – 3rd Place, Human Resource Management
• Ava Howard – Finalist, Human Resource Management
• Sumer Roberts – 2nd Place, Retail Management
• Nicholas Ulrich – 3rd Place, Retail Management
• Kameron Parker – Finalist, Sales Management and Leadership
• Leah Tibbetts – 2nd Place, Travel and Tourism 

Top team event winners include: 

• Kameron Parker/Ryan Otoole – 3rd Place, Business Ethics
• Ava Howard/Torrie Mack – 2nd Place, Business Ethics
• Sumer Roberts/Seth Kenna – Finalists, Entertainment Marketing
• Addison Gerdon/Leah Tibbetts – 1st Place, Marketing Communications
• Cooper Klosterman/Nicholas Langenwalter – 1st Place, Sports Marketing 

“I was pleased at how well our students performed. As is usually the case, almost all NDSCS Collegiate DECA members are first-year students who have never competed before, going against seasoned juniors and seniors from four-year colleges who have experienced both state and national competitions,” commented Gregory Anderson, the faculty advisor for NDSCS Collegiate DECA. “I will be very proud to see several of our students take the next step at the International Conference in April.” 

Photo caption: 

NDSCS Collegiate DECA students 
(L to R) Front Row: Carley Hoff, Julia Anderson, Ellie Meyer, Zoey Bohenenstingl, Sumer Roberts Middle Row: Jace Johanson, Nicholas Langenwalter; Avery Malme, Kameron Parker, Addison Gerdon, Nicholas Ulrich, Ava Howard, Torrie Mack. Back Row: Cooper Klosterman, Leah Tibbetts, Carson Andel, Seth Kenna, Peyton Kadel, Khouba Toure, Brandon Henderson, Ryan Otoole

The Beta Mu Rho chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at North Dakota State College of Science is proud to announce that four outstanding students have been named to the 2025 North Dakota Academic All-State Team. This honor highlights the exceptional academic achievements of community college students. 

The Workforce Pathway Scholars are students who plan to begin their professional careers immediately after graduation, while the Transfer Pathway Scholars intend to continue their education at a four-year institution upon completing their community college studies. 

The students, listed with their program of study and hometown, are:

• Transfer Pathway Scholars:
  • Kaylee Stegora, Liberal Arts, Monticello, Minn.
  • Madison Thompson, Pharmacy Technician, Hatton, N.D.
• Workforce Pathway Scholars:
  • Moriah Blazek, Business Management, Wyndmere, N.D.
  • Cierra Erickson, Dental Hygiene, Minot, N.D.

These students represent a variety of disciplines, reflecting the diverse opportunities at NDSCS. Sponsored by the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Coca-Cola, this recognition underscores the importance of academic excellence in community colleges. 

Students named to the North Dakota Academic All-State Team are also considered for nomination as the state’s New Century Scholar and membership on the All-USA Academic Team. 

The honorees will be celebrated at the North Dakota Academic All-State Team banquet, hosted in Bismarck on Wednesday, March 19th. This event will bring together state leaders, educators, and community members to honor the achievements of these exceptional students.

Nearly 200 Collegiate DECA members, including 5 NDSCS students and NDSCS Business Management Professor, Greg Anderson, attended the 2022 ENGAGE Conference in Atlanta, GA on November 3-5, 2022. The NDSCS student attendees were:

• Jayden Kaehler
• Reid Goodman
• Cassie Hanson
• Bridger Ell
• Hayden Schuler

The weekend included three days of non-stop networking, powerful speakers, career exploration, competition and captivating EduTours.

One highlight of the conference included behind-the-scenes EduTours to eleven businesses in the Atlanta area. These businesses included AmericasMart, Chick-fil-A, Dagger, Epicurean, Georgia-Pacific, Illuminarium, Inspire, Marriott, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Salesforce and Westin.

Another major component of the conference was the Case Study Challenge. This year's Case Study was a Marketing Management event that focused on buying and merchandising for a sporting goods store. Photo shown is of students Hayden, Reid, and Bridger preparing for their case study presentation. 

Original article written and published by decadirect.org.