We’re on a Mission

Washington DECA is on a mission to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management.

OUR VISION

Our vision is to prepare innovative leaders and entrepreneurs who make a positive social and global impact.

We’re on a Mission

Washington DECA is on a mission to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management.

Our Vision Statement

Prepare innovative leaders and entrepreneurs who make a positive social and global impact.

IT STARTS IN THE CLASSROOM

Every school day, over 250 high school teachers in Washington wake up to teach 13,000 (and counting) DECA student members to aspire higher, become leaders, and prepare to thrive in the global economy.

Through active membership, students embrace four key DECA Values: Innovation, Teamwork, Competency, and Integrity. These values are practiced and lived out in over 50 business-based competitions, scholarships, conferences, campaigns, initiatives, school-based enterprises and recognition opportunities for students.

WAshington DECA SOLUTIONS FOR SUCCESS

EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTES TO DECA BENEFITS

DECA is a powerful partnership between students, teachers, parents, and business leaders. This partnership combines educational purpose with real-world business practice and then amplifies it with student passion for a positive and profitable future.

Students gain college and career advantage for life. Teachers gain outstanding educational tools validated by an industry that enriches, energizes and engages students. Communities become filled with service-minded young leaders who are a force for good. Businesses gain an intelligent, highly-skilled, motivated and leadership-ready workforce.

All of this is made possible through contributions from industry partners, schools, and students who provide time and funding for scholarships and world-class education experiences. From student-led fundraisers, leadership opportunities, community service projects and a comprehensive learning program, DECA is the best business and education partnership value in the world available for all high school students.

75+ YEARS OF SUCCESS

The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that 50% of startup businesses fail in the first 5 years, so it’s saying something when a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization like DECA has made it 75 years (and counting!). DECA has made a lasting impact in the lives of over 150,000 Washington graduates because we not only teach entrepreneurship—we practice it. We evolve, stay cutting edge, and innovate to bring students the best leadership and entrepreneurial opportunities available.

In 1947, Washington became one of the first states in the nation to be chartered by DECA. Back in the 1940’s, what we call Entrepreneurship and Marketing Education today was called “Distributive Education”. Washington was one of the first to see the value and power of amplifying education through the applied academics available through the “Distributive Education Clubs of America” (our original name). The world of business innovated and advanced and so did DECA. Distributive education became marketing and entrepreneurship education. Clubs of students evolved into communities of business and education leaders championing and cheering for the future of our youth. An America-based organization fostered the idea of the American Enterprise System available for all freedom-loving entrepreneurial-minded people around the world.

Washington DECA has proven for over 75 years that the more you study the more you know, the more you practice the further you go, and the more you give the more you grow.