Congratulations to DECA's 2025-26 Scholarship Recipients

Mar 10, 2026

DECA is pleased to announce the 2025-26 scholarship recipients. Each year, DECA and its corporate partners award over $200,000 in scholarships to DECA members. Congratulations to this year’s recipients!

Central Region Scholarship

Cullen Watanuki, Oklahoma State University, IL

DECA Inc. Scholarship

Hannah Heidari, Bryant University, RI
Asher Leventhal, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Praveena Mahendran, University of Washington, WA
Mason St. Jean, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, TN
Cullen Watanuki, Oklahoma State University, IL

DECA Inc. Scholarship | Collegiate DECA

PB Branson, University of Missouri, MO
Peighton Harak, Oklahoma State University, OK
Shrey Patel, Rice University, TX
Tucker West, High Plains Technology Center, OK

IBM SkillsBuild

Jemuel Picol, MOT Charter High School, DE
Adeola Adeyemo, Armwood High School, FL
Gavin McKeon, Plainfield High School, IN
Tia Sadhwani, Academy of the Holy Angels, NJ
Ashwin Subramanian Chidambaram, Lexington Technology Center, SC

Leadership Initiatives

Meredith Blackley, Corinth Holders High School, NC
Aditi Motha, North Allegheny Senior High, PA

National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI) Scholarship

Noah Birken, Olympic Heights High School, FL
Audrey Kim, Staten Island Technical High School, NY

National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) Scholarship

Aisha Diallo, Roswell High School, GA
Joanna Fang, Baton Rouge Magnet High School, LA
Eshan Jhaver, Edison High School, NJ

National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) Scholarship

Mahita Penmetsa, Green Hope High School, NC
Tran Nguyen, Apex Friendship High School, NC
Brady Smith, V.R. Eaton High School, TX

North Atlantic Region Scholarship

Hannah Heidari, Bryant University, RI

NRF Foundation + Macy's

Charlize Hargrove, Conifer High School, CO
Krishna Kasuganti, Panther Creek High School, NC
Arjun Jayaraman, Anthony Wayne High School, OH
Dayanis Morales Salgado, Norristown Area High School, PA
Alexa Moreno, JJ Pearce High School, TX
Emily Zheng, John Foster Dulles High School, TX
Rayyan Khan, Reedy High School, TX

NRF Foundation - RISE Up Scholarship

Molly Pothier, Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy, LA
Jack Herbert, Hillsboro-Deering High School, NH
Alyssa Milton, Palisades High School, NC
Keilana Ferguson, Marysville High School, OH
Grace Ballard, Christiansburg High School, VA

Otis Spunkmeyer, Inc. Scholarship

Ria Geronimo, Williamstown High School, NJ
Emma Nice, Minto High School, ND
Aanya Ranasaria, Hamilton Sussex High School, WI

Publix Super Markets, Inc. Scholarship

Collin Dowling, Lyman High School, FL
Mya McIntyre, Royal Palm Beach High School, FL
Michelle Le, May River High School, SC

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Scholarship

Ella Min, Amador Valley High School, CA
Brianna Zhang, Portage Central High School, MI
Zoey Heyn, Bridgman High School, MI
Elise Schmidt, Lake Oswego High School, OR
Mirghany Uthman, Rock Ridge High School, VA

Southern Region Scholarship

Mason St. Jean, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, TN

Western Region Scholarship

Abigail Herrera, Ironwood High School, AZ
Keerthana Perla, Hillcrest High School, UT
Praveena Mahendran, University of Washington, WA

Harry A. Applegate Scholarship Program

The Harry Applegate Scholarship Program is a scholarship fund that corporate and organization supporters contribute to, but the scholarship is actually in the name of the company or organization.