Three FHSU teams placed in the top-10 in their respective competitive categories at the Collegiate DECA national competition. One team placed 2nd in Entrepreneurship.
Six students in Fort Hays State University's DECA, out of nine who attended, received honors at the recent International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Fla. Distributive Education Clubs of America is an organization for students in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.
Jessica Tormey and Tyler Thompson, Derby juniors, took second place in the nation in entrepreneurship. Jenna Braun, Victoria senior, and Bryan Saindon, Ellis senior, took top 10 honors in business ethics. Jacob Kessler, Lakin senior, and Zach Meyer, Hoxie senior, earned top 10 honors in business law.
The team also was honored with the Presidential Passport Award for leadership. Tormey also was awarded an individual Gold Passport award. These awards are based on DECA's core values, competence, innovation, integrity and teamwork.
"It was an excellent experience for the Fort Hays State University students to show off their skills," Thompson said. "I think that placing six out of the nine students who went says a lot about a small school in western Kansas like us, especially since it is only our third year as a chapter."