NATIONAL BOUND — DECA members heading to the National Competition are from left to right, Randy Prukop, Elisa Kelley, Cole Wilborn, and Jon Paul Escobar. The Bishop High School Distributive Education Clubs of America, DECA, recently took 18 students to compete at the Texas State Competition, Feb. 17-21.

The competition took place in downtown Fort Worth and the students competed in a variety of marketing events that tested their level of understanding in business fields.

To advance, each student or team, had to have the top score in their section and the second highest scorer would be the alternate.

Out of the 18 competitors, one student qualified for the National DECA competition in Louisville, Ky., and three students, one individual and one partner team, made it as alternates.

Alternate Individual - Elisa Kelley, Apparel and Accessories Individual Series Event;

Alternate Partner Team - Jon Paul Escobar and Randy Prukop, Creative Marketing Written Event; and

National Qualifier - Cole Wilborn, Entrepreneurship Participating Written Event.

This is the 20th time the Bishop DECA Chapter has advanced and been able to participate in the National DECA Competition.

“I am proud of all my competitors and especially proud of my four students who qualified and made it for alternates for the National Competition. These students have worked hard throughout the year preparing for these competitions and I believe that my National participants will be well prepared to compete at such a competitive level. Coming from a small school and advancing over larger ones shows the dedication and effort put forth by my students,” Marketing Education teacher Anita Vera said.