When junior Kalaia Bouley participated in a mock DECA competition in her culinary arts class, she discovered her passion for business-related activities and projects.

“We did a DECA simulation in class, which got me interested in joining,” Bouley said. “My goals are to gain new skills I can use in the future.”

District competitions take place Jan. 26-27 in Downtown Minneapolis.

According to DECA’s co-adviser Sophia Ross, students mainly prepare for these competitions with in-class activities and assignments.

“Some students have advantages with getting ready for competition,” she said. “In the business classes, students do some DECA competitive events as part of the curriculum projects in the class.”

According to Ross, six students qualified for the national competition last year. Senior president Klara Hermes said she hopes more students qualify this year.

“Our goal is to have everyone who competes go to State and eventually Nationals,” Hermes said.

Every year, DECA participates in competitions consisting of business simulations such as sales pitches, interviews and decision making.

Co-adviser Jena Splettstoeser said students should become acquainted with their event in order to succeed.

“The best way to be prepared is to take a business class looking through your event guidelines,” she said. “It helps to understand what the actual event will look like.”

Ross also said students who work in the school store, the Storiole, helps students get a feel for real-world marketing.

“There’s a chapter event that students can compete it where they can write about their school-based enterprise,” she said. “But just the experience of working and customer service and the marketing that they create down in the school store actually helps them prepare for competition.”

Bouley said despite the long term goals of  qualifying for nationals and the extensive preparation necessary for any level of competition, her focus is now on performing well at districts.

“(I want) to possibly move on to the next round but because it is my first ever DECA competition,” she said. “I mainly want to do the best I can even if I don’t move on,” Bouley said.