Four Gretna East students are set to travel to Atlanta, Georgia, this weekend to compete and participate in DECA’s International Career Development Conference (ICDC), one of the largest student business events in the world.
ICDC will take place from April 24-29 and is expected to bring nearly 20,000 students from around the world, offering competitors the chance to test their skills on an international stage.
Among those competitors is Gretna East sophomore Leighton Filter, who will compete in an individual competition, while three other students, senior Garrett Tenney, junior Hadlee White and sophomore Taegyn Brown, will be going for the leadership program.
At ICDC, competitors will participate in events that mirror real-world business situations, combining written exams with judged role-play scenarios. Filter will compete in Quick-Serve Restaurant Management, an event focused on handling fast-paced customer service situations, operations and problem-solving under pressure.
While the structure of competition remains similar to State, the scale of ICDC presents a new challenge.
“I’m excited, but it’s definitely a little nerve-wracking knowing how many people will be there,” Filter said. “It’ll be really cool to compete against people from all over and see how I do.”
This will be Tenney’s second time going to ICDC after placing fifth last year at State in Principles of Business Management and Administration, giving him experience with the larger stage.
“Nationals is similar to State in how the events are run, but everything is just on a much bigger scale,” Tenney said. “There are more competitors, more pressure and a lot more energy, which makes it a completely different experience.”
Beyond competition, ICDC offers opportunities for students to expand their experience through workshops, networking and keynote speakers. With participants travelling from across the country and around the world, students are able to connect with others and gain new perspectives.
“At internationals, students are stepping into an environment that’s much bigger than anything they’ve experienced before,” DECA sponsor Mary Janssen said. “They’re meeting people from different backgrounds, hearing from industry leaders and gaining real-world insight. It’s an opportunity that builds confidence and opens their eyes to what’s possible after high school.”
For Gretna East students, ICDC represents more than just competition, offering an opportunity to gain experience, build connections and apply their skills on an international stage.
