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Making the Most of Your Summer with DECA
We’re well into summer, but your DECA journey doesn’t have to hit pause just because school is out. Whether you’re looking to build your resume, strengthen your leadership skills or stay connected with the DECA community, there are countless ways to make this summer one to remember!

The Summer of DECA Quest
Summer of DECA is ready for takeoff! This digital scavenger hunt is packed with exciting missions and will be updated weekly throughout the summer. From catching sunsets to mapping out your 2025-2026 DECA goals, there's an adventure waiting for everyone.

Pitch Decks: Your Questions Answered
New for the 2025-26 school year, six competitive events will replace the previously required 10-page written paper with a 20-slide pitch deck. Check out this article for answers to questions about the change to Pitch Decks.

2025 Advisor Professional Learning Virtual Conference Keynote Speaker & Sessions
DECA is excited to share a look at the 2025 Advisor Professional Learning Virtual Conference keynote speaker and sessions. Join us on July 23-24 for two days filled with content focusing on instructional content that connects DECA to the classroom.

Download the 2025-2026 DECA Guide
The DECA Guide provides all the information you need to have a successful year. Explore our learning programs, check out this year’s calendar, access competitive event guidelines and so much more!

DECA Hosts Luminary Program Powered by Adobe in San Francisco
This elite professional development experience brings together distinguished DECA chapter advisors from across the DECA network to deepen their leadership, instructional, and digital skills in a unique “train-the-trainer” format.

How your DECA Judge Thinks like a Shark Tank Investor
DECA judges use mental shortcuts just like investors. Learn how to craft your pitch to match their mindset and make your project more memorable.

From FOMO to Finalist: How to Bounce Back After ICDC
Competing in DECA is an opportunity that shapes young business leaders in a multitude of ways. So whether you placed this year or not, your DECA journey is far from over. Set the precedent for a new year, one filled with growth, confidence and achievement.

Recharge, Reassess and Restore: Your Chapter’s Guide to a Successful Summer
DECA doesn’t have to stop just because school is out. As a leader, take advantage of the summer months to prepare your chapter best to Go The Extra in the fall with three key tips: recharge, reassess and restore.

Navigating the Summer Before College
The summer before college is a unique and often overlooked chapter in the story of your academic journey. It’s a season that offers more than rest – it’s an opportunity to intentionally prepare, reflect and reset.

The Best Leaders Go The Extra—Starting In The Summer
The summer months offer the perfect opportunity to get a head start on your goals before the school year kicks into high gear. Here are some tips to help you start your officer term off strong!

Level Up This Summer: The Strength of Volunteering
Leadership doesn't end when the school year does, and neither should your impact. Volunteering is one of the most fulfilling ways to level up as a student, leader and citizen.

DECA Direct Magazine: Limitless
This issue features an the #Limitless Year Quiz that you can take to find a perfectly tailored list of DECA conferences, programs, challenges and activities you can participate in this year that relate to your own career interest.

Collegiate DECA's 2016-2017 Recognition Award Winners
Congratulations to these Collegiate DECA members for owning their futures this year!

Collegiate DECA 2016-2017 Leadership Passport Program Recipients
Congratulations to these chapters and members for all their hard work! Way to #OwnYourFuture!

Collegiate DECA Scholarship Recipients 2016-2017
Collegiate DECA scholarship recipients present at the 2017 #CDECAICDC in will be recognized on stage.

3 Quick Tips to Nail Your DECA Role-Play
With some competitions in full swing and many coming up in a month or less, many competitors are practicing and preparing for their role-play. Here are some pointers to brush up on that will help you nail your time in front of a judge.

Collegiate DECA Competition Tips from the Pros
Everybody is getting excited for their local competitions and the International Career Development Conference in April. It’s also the time that people start asking what they need to do to be successful in the upcoming competitions, so I’ve gathered some tips from the pros.

First Time Competitors Survival Guide
Go and grab your DECA blazer and your nicest tie, because the competition season is upon us! Here’s a three-step guide to get you through your first competitive conference.

3 Tips to Consider for Your Written Event Project
Although written events are long and hard to prepare for, the hard work definitely pays off in the end! Here are some tips to ace your written event in anticipation of #DECAICDC.

6 Easy Ways to Engage Your Audience for a Better Presentation
If you’ve ever been nervous in front of an audience, you’ll know how much of a difference it makes when you can get the crowd engaged right from the start.

10 Ways to Put the Unity in Your CommUNITY Service Campaign
Community service is an amazing experience that allows us to leave our mark on the world, but getting other high school students involved can sometimes be difficult. Here's how to make it happen!

Finding Your DECA Competition Soul Mate
It’s the beginning of the year and competition season is just around the corner. Deciding on which role-play or written project to choose may largely depend on who you wish to compete with, but before you go full throttle with your first pick, make sure to weigh out the strengths and weaknesses that your potential team may have.

4 Skills for Effective Teamwork
If you are athletic and grew up playing a lot of organized sports, or if you were involved in your school’s student council or theater productions, you already may be very familiar with group dynamics and working on a team; however, if you didn’t, working on a team may be somewhat new to you.