On Jan. 23, all D303 school and office buildings were closed due to severe winter weather, causing an E-Learning day for all students. North’s DECA, or Distributive Education Clubs of America, members were supposed to attend and compete at their sectional competition on this day; however, due to widespread school cancellations and E-Learning days, the competition was cancelled.
Typically, the sectional competition is held to determine who will compete at state. Without the sectional competition, the DECA organization gave advisers the power to make a call about who would attend the state competition. Certain events had to send in and complete their materials ahead of time, meaning some members had already qualified for state. However, between both DECA advisers, they were limited to 30 members.
“We looked at our roster, and just kind of by chance, all of our seniors and juniors combined make the 30 [members],” said Mike Horn, Business education teacher and DECA co-adviser.
It was difficult for advisers to make their ultimate decision on which members to bring to state, but members tend to agree that the best decision possible was made.
“I think they did a good job, because I think it’d be really hard to decide [who to take], since there’s so many members in our club,” said senior Victoria Lackner, DECA member.
DECA students faced disappointment, particularly underclassmen who were not given the chance to qualify.
“I think it was really disappointing, especially for the underclassmen who weren’t given the opportunity to compete and potentially go to state. But I also think it was out of our control, and we found the best solution we could,” said senior Addie Haan, DECA officer board member and iConnect representative.
Although it was disappointing to endure the cancellation and adaptations to state qualifications, the club is optimistic and hopeful about state. Since North was not the only school unable to compete, everyone is going into the state competition from the same point.
“We’re going to have over 2,500 kids at the state competition, and then the kids potentially could qualify to go on to the national event in April. So our fingers are crossed to see if some kids can make it through to nationals,” said Horn.
