Students with a knack for business win big at state competition
HILARY MATHESON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 1 month AGO
EDUCATION REPORTER Hilary Matheson covers education for the Daily Inter Lake. Her reporting focuses on schools, students, and the policies that shape public education across Northwest Montana. Matheson regularly reports on school boards, district decisions and issues affecting teachers and families. Her work examines how funding, enrollment and state policy influence local school systems. She helps readers understand how education decisions affect students and communities throughout the region. IMPACT: Hilary’s work provides transparency and insight into the schools that serve thousands of local families. | February 16, 2023 11:00 PM
Young entrepreneurs with business sense from Flathead, Glacier and Whitefish high schools had another year of success at the Montana DECA Conference.
Students competed in various events in business management and administration, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing and hospitality and tourism from Feb. 5-7.
Glacier won the most events at state, 18, and remains undefeated in the annual Shark Tank Challenge, winning $1,000.
Flathead received the Spirit Award traveling trophy, which is given to the chapter that “goes above and beyond,” in showing leadership and professionalism at state during the competition and through its participation in other activities. Flathead was also recognized for having the largest chapter. Additionally, Flathead received certification for a school-based enterprise.
Both Flathead and Glacier achieved Thrive Level status in recognition of the work the respective chapters did to grow their membership.
State officers were also selected — Katy Bitney and Elise Strobel, both from Glacier, and Carter Bullens from Flathead.
Depending on the event, students in the top two or three spots advance to the International Career Development Conference scheduled for April 22-35 in Florida. Students who qualify in multiple state events may only choose one event to compete in at the international level.
Following are local results.
The top two in the following events qualify for the international conference.
Business Growth Plan
1 Aidan Walker, Glacier
Business Services Operations Research
1 Timmy Glanville, Kaitlyn Illi and Ryan Webster, Glacier
3 Allison Abel, Grace Sebby and Elennah Wynn, Whitefish
5 Mary Mercer and Myli Ridgeway, Whitefish
Business Solutions Project
2 Logan Bingham, Jake Dunker and Hagen Prather, Whitefish
Buying and Merchandising Operations Research
2 Bailey Kallal, Lauren Rossi and Iona Sarraille, Whitefish
Community Awareness Project
4 Georgia Morrell and Kaitleen To
5 Sydney Buckmaster and CJ Thew, Whitefish
Community Giving Project
1 Katy Bitney and Elise Strobel, Glacier
3 Avery Dunker, Rya Hirsh and Maggie Pulsifer, Whitefish
Finance Operations Research
2 Maddy Muhlfeld, Johnny Nix and Tevan Solomon, Whitefish
Franchise Business Plan
3 Payzlee Boyce and Ally Pollan, Flathead
Hospitality and Tourism Operations Research
3 Selah Hagler and Bowdrie Krack, Whitefish
4 Jesse Burrough, Mason Genovese and Olivia Genovese, Whitefish
5 Cody Hoover and Linnea McCrady, Whitefish
Innovation Plan
1 Matthew Himsl, Andrew Johnson and Ada Milner, Flathead
4 Mikenna Conan and Lilli Eash, Flathead
Integrated Marketing Campaign (event)
2 Maddie Davis and Haven Speer, Glacier
Integrated Marketing Campaign (product)
3 Allison Abel, Grace Sebby and Elennah Wynn, Whitefish
Integrated Marketing Campaign (services)
1 Charlie Hyatt and Matthew Peschel, Whitefish
Sports and Entertainment Operations Research
1 Avery Dunker and Rya Hirsh, Whitefish
2 Alex Bourque and Christian Schwaderer, Whitefish
Start-up Business Plan
1 Katie Brearey, Sophia Huerta and Clara Jones, Flathead
5 Wyatt Kaszuba, Gavin Mayo and Ethan Schott, Whitefish
The top three in the following events qualify for the international conference.
Business Law and Ethics Team Decision
3 Johnny Nix and Tevan Solomon, Whitefish
4 Isaac Brown and Blake Lindemann, Glacier
5 Natalee Lembke and Wyatt Thompson, Flathead
6 Luke Leech and Orion Preszler, Flathead
8 Liesel Esser and Maya Kinkaid, Glacier
Buying and Merchandising Team Decision Making
1 Carter Bullins and Miller Bushnell, Flathead
3 Jack Boone and Alyssa Conrad, Glacier
4 Alessandro Pipolo and Ali Putzler, Flathead
5 Kevin Fortin and Quindy Gronley, Glacier
7 Easton Capser and Mia Stephan, Flathead
8 Quinn Berkram and Marlo Carpenter, Glacier
Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making
1 Sarah Downs and Calvin Schmidt, Glacier
4 Hailey Hendrickson and Dorian Roettig, Flathead
5 Zoey Marzo and Gretel Vine, Whitefish
6 Alex Hudson and Emmery Schmidt, Glacier
8 Kevin Fortin and Logan Marlow, Glacier
Financial Services Team Decision Making
4 Cadence Murcray and Aidan Walker, Glacier
7 Jake Dunker and CJ Thew, Whitefish
8 Akilah Kubi and Natalee Lembke, Flathead
Hospitality Services Team Decision Making
2 Isaac Brown and Blake Lindemann, Glacier
4 Clara Jones and Thomas Konopka, Flathead
5 Mason Genovese and Charlie Hyatt, Whitefish
8 Alex Hudson and Emmery Schmidt, Glacier
Marketing Management Team Decision
1 Harrison Sanders and Calvin Schmidt, Glacier
2 Gavin Emerson and Hailey Hendrickson, Flathead
3 Amelia Mason and James Moody, Flathead
4 Ada Milner and Brett Pesola, Flathead
6 Baylanna Brash and Libby Peltz, Flathead
Sports and Entertainment Team Decision Making
1 Harrison Sanders and Ethan Woods, Glacier
2 Sam Engellant and Jack Syverson, Glacier
3 Ainsley Scott and Brooke Zetooney, Whitefish
4 Carter Bullins and Caiyou Witts, Flathead
5 Ava Bee and Gretel Vine, Whitefish
6 Quinn Berkram and Marlo Carpenter, Glacier
7 Selena Simms and Madison Stanwood, Whitefish
Travel and Tourism Team Decision Making
2 Selah Conklin and Elise Plum, Glacier
4 Quindy Gronley and Claire Schwaller, Glacier
6 Emma Ferguson-Reiner and Kenzie Nordness, Glacier
7 Lilli Eash and Jackson Walker, Flathead
8 Alivia Rinehart and Eliska Tornerova, Flathead
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