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Northwood University hosting Mock DECA weekend for nearby high schools

Published on 11/6/2009 12:23:50 PM
About 500 local high school students will again descend on Northwood University's Mock DECA conference Nov. 19 and 20, better preparing themselves for official competition.

Northwood University hosting Mock DECA weekend for nearby high schools

CEDAR HILL – About 500 local high school students will again descend on Northwood University's Mock DECA conference Nov. 19 and 20, better preparing themselves for official competition.

Angel Moreno, Northwood University's associate director of admissions and e-communications, said high school students within a 50-mile radius will travel to Northwood's campus this November, just as they have for the last 15 years. DECA is an international association of high school and college students studying marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality and marketing sales and service. The mock competition prepares students for actual competition by having them complete many of the same challenges found in DECA's competitive events, but in a practice environment.

Northwood's Mock DECA exercises include participating in a role-playing competition and an hour-long sample written event seminar, Moreno said. Awards are given for the best individual; first, second and third place for role-play; and best overall school performance.

"A lot of these students are practicing in the classroom, but it gives them the opportunity to practice these events with a third party verses someone in their chapter. They're getting feedback and suggestions from a third party -- Northwood students acting as judges, many of whom have already competed in DECA at the collegiate level," Moreno said. "Advisers have also told us that the main reason they come back each year is because they think it's a valuable experience. This is where their students can come and make mistakes, learn from them and be better prepared for real competition."

Most of the students engaged in high school DECA are already in a business/marketing environment in the classroom, and some are considering majoring in business, Moreno said. They like the feel of Northwood's campus and its classrooms. Many also decide to apply to Northwood because of the strong business curriculum, he said.

"It's a really good opportunity," Moreno said. "You can get two things out of this: A visit to a college campus and a competitive edge over someone who hasn't participated in a Mock DECA competition,"

Local high schools that have participated include Townview High School, Duncanville High School, Coppell High School and Plano West High School.

Cynthia Nickleberry, teacher and DECA adviser at Townview Business Magnet in the Dallas Independent School District, has been a DECA adviser for about a decade. Ms. Nickleberry said Mock DECA events help students build confidence by getting feedback on their presentations through role playing and looking at competitive event tests.

"After attending the Mock DECA conference and touring Northwood University, each year we have had several students attend Northwood," Ms. Nickelberry said. "Some students even get scholarships."
      
Lunch is catered by Chick-fil-A, and the cost for each student to attend is $10. To register for Mock DECA, visit www.northwood.edu/tx/admissions/.
                                  
About Northwood University
Northwood University is committed to the most personal attention to prepare students for success in their careers and in their communities; it promotes critical thinking skills and personal effectiveness, and the importance of ethics, individual freedom and responsibility.

Private, nonprofit and accredited, Northwood University specializes in managerial and entrepreneurial education at three full-service, residential campuses located in Southern Florida, mid-Michigan and Northern Texas. Adult Degree Programs are available in eight states with many course delivery options including online. The DeVos Graduate School offers full-time, evening and industry specific master's degree programs for entrepreneurs and executives in Michigan, Texas and Switzerland. The Alden B. Dow Creativity Center on the Midland, Michigan, campus specializes in creative thinking and innovation development. International education is offered through terms abroad and in Program Centers in Switzerland, China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bahrain. Northwood University also operates the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Maine.

50 Years of Enterprise and Ethics
Northwood University is marking its 50-year anniversary. Founded in 1959, Northwood has grown to a national and international presence and is an influential advocate for free enterprise. Celebrations are planned across the country and around the world to commemorate the vision and success of Northwood University's founders, Drs. R. Gary Stauffer and Arthur Turner.