This 2025-2026 school year, our DECA team had a huge success. Many competitors excelled in their events during the State competition. Excellence in DECA often begins with the individual’s ability to master a specific niche.
In the Accounting Applications Series, Amber Saephan showcased her technical prowess, securing 2nd Place in her second Role Play and finishing as an overall Top 10 finalist.
The momentum continued in the Business Finance Series, where Luke Valiton earned a 3rd Place finish in his Role Play and also landed in the Overall Top 10. In the Principles of Entrepreneurship, Hailey Harrison took home 1st Place for her Role Play. At the same time, Abby Carlson achieved 2nd Overall—officially qualifying her for the International Career Development Conference.
DECA also includes team events, allowing two people to work as a team for a Role Play; these team events saw local students rising to the challenge of collaborative problem-solving. Business Law and Ethics: The duo of DJ Garcia and Amber Saephan tied for 2nd Place in their Role Play and secured an Overall Top 10 spot. The team of Aubry and Carlson finished among the overall Top 10 in the Travel & Tourism category.
Perhaps the most impressive display of teamwork came from the Business Operations category. Four different teams conducted reports on local places, all securing Overall Top 10 finishes: Berzunza & Chao (Sweet Betty’s), Bogarin & Moffitt (Country Coffee), Kilyushik, Korman & Sorheim (Jazzy Bagels), and Kariuki & Vodden (Sugar Cubed).
DECA’s success didn’t stop at traditional categories. This year, students innovated through the DECA GARAGE, a high-stakes, on-site “Shark Tank” style event debuting for the first time at Oregon DECA. The team of Bhear, Bogarin, and Xiong rose to the occasion, presenting their “Cascadia Clean Rack.”
Beyond individual and team competitions, DECA’s collective excellence was recognized at the highest level through our School-Based Enterprise (SBE). The Den has officially achieved ReCertified GOLD Level status. This prestigious certification is no small award; it requires rigorous documentation of business standards, financial performance, and marketing integration, which we can now say we achieved.
Though not everything is about competition, the success of The Den was a true group effort, coordinated by the entire Marketing 5-6 class, including: Amber Saephan, Mattie Callison, Vincent Xiong, DJ Garcia, Natalie Brooks, Olivia West, and Sophia West.
The journey is far from over for some high-achieving DECA members. With Abby Carlson’s impressive 2nd-place overall finish, she has officially made her way to the International Career Development Conference (ICDC). On April 25-28, 2026, Abby will be representing our school on the international stage in Atlanta, Georgia. Carlson herself has said that, “I’m feeling very excited to have qualified for ICDC in my first year of DECA. Going to Internationals is so important to me, and I can’t wait to represent our school. DECA has given me so many connections and opportunities that I am super grateful for!”
These Barlow students’ performances this year serve as a powerful reminder that we can accomplish greatness. Anita Lamoureux, the teacher who led these students to victory, shares, “I am very proud of our team and the manner in which they conducted themselves as a Barlow community.”
The 2025-2026 DECA team has set a new benchmark for excellence. We look forward to seeing our qualifiers next year, competing at the next level, and continuing to build Barlow’s legacy of professional leadership. Go DECA!
