Washington DECA

Our 2026-2027 state officers took on their first event as a team, their State Officer Leadership Training (SOLT)!

For three days, Team Horizon presented their Program of Leadership initiatives, planned activities within their mission teams, and learned about the intricacies of working within teams, how to lead engaging workshops, and advocate for CTE.

We are so excited to see what this team will accomplish in the upcoming year! 🌅

Save the Date! Don't miss our PD Conference for advisors!

From utilizing DECA+ and the Advisor HQ, building stronger project-based learning, learning how to master competitive strategies, and more, this conference has everything you need to start your year off right.

Learn more:https://wadeca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Professional-Development-Conference-Flier-2026.pdf

Dates/Times:
🔷 September 13: New advisors (0-3 years) | 1:30 pm - 6:00 pm
🔷 September 14: All advisors | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Join us for a night of impact at Ignite the Future on September 25! Take advantage of several ways to amplify your brand by becoming a sponsor. Learn more about these opportunities at https://conta.cc/4cflTa8.

We believe that every student should have the opportunity to access the life-changing DECA experience. All funds go towards the Youth Equity Scholarship to support Washington DECA members who cannot financially afford to participate on their own.

💫 Sponsor: https://conta.cc/4cflTa8
🎟 Tables or Tickets: https://conta.cc/482ufzl
💎 Donate an Auction Item/Experience: https://conta.cc/4nRuDHF
💙 Monetary Donation: https://conta.cc/48MPRQk

This fall, we invite you to support Ignite the Future on September 25 at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue.

All proceeds support the Youth Equity Scholarship (YES), a fund that removes financial barriers for students across WA to fully engage in DECA’s transformative career and leadership building programs.

Whether through sponsorship, attending, or contributing auction items or donations, your involvement helps bridge the gap and ensures all students have equal access to thrive, learn, and lead with confidence.

💫 Sponsor: https://conta.cc/4cflTa8
🎟 Tables or Tickets: https://conta.cc/482ufzl
💎 Donate an Auction Item/Experience: https://conta.cc/4nRuDHF
💙 Monetary Donation: https://conta.cc/48MPRQk

Congratulations to our Washington DECA advisor, Noah Bannister from Burlington-Edison! We are so proud and happy to see that your hard work is being recognized. 💙

Congratulations to the 2025-26 Morning Rotary B-EHS Teacher of the Year, Noah Bannister!
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¡Felicidades al Maestro del Año 2025-26 de Morning Rotary B-EHS, Noah Bannister!

Last week, Washington DECA members visited Olympic College for a Leadership, Management, & Marketing Conference! They attended two entrepreneurship workshops on careers and group projects, met campus faculty, and participated in a mini-competition. Thank you to Olympic College for your support of our future business leaders!

The WA DECA Mariners Day Dress Code will be enforced tomorrow! Please contact your advisor with any questions.

Rooted in vision and forward motion, next year's Washington DECA theme represents the endless potential ahead! It reflects the intersection of present and future, where progress, ambition, and new beginnings come together.

This theme is about rising beyond current limits and continuing to move forward with purpose. It speaks to strength built through challenge and the determination to keep striving for more.

Next year is all about growth through every step of the DECA journey. We encourage members to lift their eyes forward and embrace what’s next with intention. Ahead of us is not just the unknown, but our HORIZON. 🌅

At the heart of this year’s State Officer team was a shared commitment to serving Washington DECA members with intention and compassion. Each mission team poured hours into initiatives designed to uplift chapters while also bridging gaps to ensure members had access to resources they needed to feel confident and succeed in DECA. As they wrap up their term, we’re excited to share the highlights of their year and what’s next on their journey!

🔷Career Development Team’s favorite initiative: The “How to Do a Role-Play” workshop at FLC, where CD led competitive-readiness activities with hundreds of members and supported new competitors directly.
🔷Leadership Team’s favorite initiative: Partnering with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, giving Washington DECA members the opportunity to turn service into meaningful impact.
🔷Finance Team’s favorite initiative: Chapter Fundraiser BuzzFeed Quiz, which provided chapters across the state with fundraising ideas tailored to their goals and demographics, making fundraising feel less overwhelming and more achievable.
🔷Hospitality Team’s favorite initiative: “Press Play on State,” a video campaign that reached and informed more than 6,000 members about the State Career Development Conference.
🔷Marketing Team’s favorite initiative: Supporting Washington DECA and Team Timeless through reels, posts, workshop segments, and promotional content that amplified initiatives across the association.

At the center of this team’s success was a State President whose leadership was defined not by recognition, but by genuine care for the members. Through compassion, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to servant leadership, William Thai created an environment where every member felt included, seen and empowered to grow into the best version of themselves. Because of his leadership, Team Timeless became more than just a name. They became a reflection of the lasting impact left on members, advisors, and the communities they served throughout their year of leadership.

Thank you, Team Timeless! We wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors! 💙

🎉 It’s clear that DECA is excited about AP Business with Personal Finance!

On Thursday, May 14, at 3:30 PM EST, join College Board for a free webinar all about the AP Summer Institute happening this June, hear directly from the DECA advisors who developed the DECA Toolkit for this course, and network while you prep for the course launch.

🔗 Read more + register now at https://www.decadirect.org/articles/register-now-for-the-apsi-deca-toolkit-webinar-hosted-by-college-board