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King’s High School DECA

DECA

DECA at King’s High School prepares students for life beyond high school.

DECA’s vision is to, “prepare innovative leaders and entrepreneurs who make a positive social and global impact.” Students learn how to be leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. DECA has four key values that students learn to embrace: innovation, teamwork, competency, and integrity.  

Business is the number one chosen major at colleges and universities. Fourteen years ago, Marian Morris had the idea to bring business classes to King’s High School with the hopes to prepare our students for college and beyond. Mrs. Morris has a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in marketing and was the perfect person to bring her expertise to our students.  

In 2008, Mrs. Morris started the business and marketing program at King’s High School. That same year, she started the DECA program, making King’s High School the first private school in Washington to have a DECA program. Mrs. Morris shares what she hopes her students gain from being a part of DECA, “I hope every student finds their identity and believes in themselves, with the same joy and passion the Lord feels every time He thinks about them and rejoices over them with a plan and a purpose that is so meaningful and exciting.”  

The King’s DECA program competes in local, as well as national competitions. While competing, students use role-plays and written tests to demonstrate their knowledge of their subject manner. In the program’s first year, 19 students advanced to the State competition. Today, our DECA program has over 40 students advancing to State every year. In 2021, 19 students competed in the DECA International Career and Development Conference, with a first place and a third-place finish, along with two finalists. King’s DECA has a 75%-win rate at the District Competition and a 46%-win rate at the State Competition. Along with applying their knowledge at competitions, King’s DECA oversees a student store at the high school. The student store teaches the students practical business skills and tools. The DECA program at King’s also puts on several trade shows throughout the year, which includes a Holiday event where they partner with several local businesses, bringing the King’s community goods to purchase as Christmas gifts for loved ones.  

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DECA Mixes Learning with Fun

Kathryn Morris graduated from King’s in 2021. If you noticed her last name, you may suspect she is related to Mrs. Morris. Kathryn is Mrs. Morris’s youngest daughter. She was a part of DECA for all four years of high school and says it was the best decision. “Of course, it was great to learn all about marketing and business, but it’s so much more than that,” Kathryn says. In addition to incredible marketing and business skills, Kathryn learned how to be independent before she left for college. The skills she learned that helped her become more independent were skills such as problem-solving and talking to an adult using eye contact. Kathryn shares, “I also learned simpler skills like how to navigate an airport by myself while on DECA trips.”

DECA makes a point to balance learning with fun. The international competition DECA holds every year varies in the location, anywhere from Orlando, Atlanta, Anaheim, or Nashville. For the international competition, DECA will buy out Disney Land and Universal Studios for the 25,000 competing students from all around the world. Kathryn feels as though this is what sets DECA apart as an organization.

After being a part of King’s DECA for four years, Kathryn says, “With the help from Mrs. Morris, you will leave with life skills that some adults do not have. These skills will set you apart.”

King’s High School DECA