Senior Noah Lenz Recognized With President’s Award

To say Monday’s State DECA competition at Southeast Polk High School was a success for our Gilbert students would be an understatement. Quite possibly one of the bigger understatements of the school year.

The Tigers absolutely crushed it.

DECA sponsor and high school business teacher Vicki Hales took 28 students to the competition to take part in 29 events. And out of those 29, Gilbert had a whopping 20 individuals or groups qualify for the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Anaheim, California.

Let us repeat that — 20 individuals or groups. A new record number for Gilbert!

In addition, Gilbert DECA also received two significant team awards — the Digital Marketing Chapter Award, and the Iowa DECA Cup Challenge title.

And senior Noah Lenz — wow! Noah was recognized as the Most Outstanding Member of the Gilbert DECA Chapter, and he also received the President’s Award, which was given out by Iowa DECA.

Below is a summary of how our students placed at the state competition, and ICDC qualifiers are noted.

Students and Mrs. Hales, your accomplishments deserve a standing round of applause. Your studious commitment puts a shining light on our school district and our community, and we could not be more proud of all of you.

State Results

  • Delaney Anderson – Apparel and Accessories Marketing – 1st place (ICDC qualifier)
  • Delaney Anderson – Independent Business Plan – 1st place (ICDC qualifier)
  • Taryn Hicks – Food Marketing – 3rd place (ICDC qualifier)
  • Taryn Hicks – Integrated Marketing Campaign: Service – 1st place (ICDC qualifier)
  • Maksymilian Koziel – Hotel and Lodging Management – Honorable Mention (ICDC alternate)
  • Lizzie Mitchell – Hotel and Lodging Management – 2nd place (ICDC qualifier)
  • Dennis May – Human Resource Management – 3rd place (ICDC qualifier)
  • Daniel May – Retail Merchandising – 3rd place (ICDC qualifier)
  • John Hales – Personal Financial Literacy – 2nd place (ICDC qualifier)
  • Noah Lenz/Charlie Schreck – Business Law and Ethics Team – 3rd place (ICDC qualifier)
  • Charlie Niegsch/Cam Stephens – Buying and Merchandising Team – Honorable Mention (ICDC alternate)
  • Jaedyn Henry/Brooke Hamers – Buying and Merchandising Team – Honorable Mention
  • Ellie Wahlman/Noreen Diaconu-Voinea – Buying and Merchandising Team – 1st place (ICDC qualifier)
  • Ellie Wahlman/Noreen Diaconu-Voinea – Integrated Marketing Campaign: Event – 3rd place (ICDC alternate)
  • Joey Currans/Nash Hanson – Financial Team – 1st place (ICDC qualifier)
  • Bia Dantas/Kaylin Richards – Marketing Team – Honorable Mention
  • Bia Dantas/Kaylin Richards – Buying and Merchandising Operations Research – 1st place (ICDC qualifier)
  • Raya Mueller/Kaitlyn Dear – Sports and Entertainment Team – Honorable Mention
  • Ella Henningsen/Abigail Thompson – Travel and Tourism Team – Honorable Mention
  • Ella Henningsen – Hospitality Professional Selling – 3rd place (ICDC alternate)
  • Olivia Timmermans – Professional Selling – 2nd place (ICDC qualifier)
  • Noah Lenz/Anson Bernard – Start Up Business Plan – 1st place (ICDC qualifier)
  • Callie Hales – Start Up Business Plan – 3rd place (ICDC alternate)
  • Hannah Becker – Franchise Business Plan – 2rd place (ICDC qualifier)
  • Zane Lytle – Sports and Entertainment Operations Research – 1st place (ICDC qualifier)
  • Sadie Breyfogle – Project Management Community Giving – 1st place (ICDC qualifier)