In one week, groups of three or four students from elementary school to college were challenged to create an innovative item.

Competitors are assigned a mystery element that must be incorporated into their project. On Nov. 13, the mystery item was revealed to be newspaper.

In the past, mystery items have included soda cans in 2013, plastic bags in 2012 and many more, according to DECA adviser Sophia Ross.

“This year’s theme was newspaper, so students came up with ways to use newspaper and make the product sustainable, creative and use it in a way that has not been done before,” Ross said.

Nov. 20 submissions included a Youtube video showing a physical model of the item, a business plan, how they made the item, and cost of the finished product. Global winners will be announced on January 12 and will receive $1,000 plus recognition on both the DECA Inc. and Global Entrepreneurship Week websites.

Ross said the project is not as focused on the aspect of winning rather than being a learning experience.

“It’s just one of those activities you do for fun,” Ross said. “I don’t think this particular project benefits the [St. Louis Park DECA chapter], but I think if it gets national recognition then it would definitely take it to another step.”

Senior officer, Dave Herrera said although participation has not increased in the past from the challenge, students generally enjoy the competition.

“Since it is further into the DECA year, not many people are interested in joining anymore because they think it is too late,” Herrera said. “But it does get the word out about the fun things that DECA does and it includes everyone.”

Senior officer Akhila Murthy said the competition’s goal is to give students an idea of the entrepreneurial process while making original products to advertise.

“[The competition] is all about creativity and what you can do with it, and how you market your product,” Murthy said. “It’s interesting to see how people market products and what they can do with it when everybody is doing the same topic.”