On Sunday April 22, the 29 qualifying North Deca students were not thinking about returning to school


on Monday, but the tests they have been studying for the past month. These students boarded the bus at 11 a.m. that day and headed to the Lake of the Ozarks to compete in the Deca state competition. The 29 participants had to previously qualify for State and the District competitions.
“There was a lot more people [at state] and it was fun meeeting all of them,” senior Lou Tzerov said. “It was all a good experience.”
All students attending State attended an opening session ceremony on Sunday night. Following the ceremony, Deca students headed back to their hotel room at the Four Season Lodge in anticipation for the next day’s competitions. Testing for all business categories began at 9 a.m. Every category was sent to a designated place and after testing was complete role play times were announced.
Role play for team and individual competitions took place in or around the hotel ballroom. After competing, all participants could choose to participate in an optional debreifing with their judges. The closing ceremony took place this morning, and winners were announced. North had 13 students qualify for Nationals – more than North has ever had before. All 13 will be heading to Anaheim, CA on April 25.
“I’m definitely excited because of all the hard work we put in,” Tzerov said. “It’s all built up to this final time and to senior year [for me].