The Distributive Education Clubs of America team, aka DECA, went to Virginia Beach Convention Center on March 4-6 to compete at the state level.  Many successful members of Tunstall’s DECA club competed in an array of events and several ran for state office. Tunstall students, senior Trey Dallas and junior Sarah Goard, were successful in two different categories.

Many first place winners from the district level attended this event including: Trey Dallas, Sarah Goard, Jacob Johnson, Aiyanna Lane, Landon Siggers, Garrett Van Allen, and Lauren Van Allen. This group has had much success in their recent past and competed in a variety of areas.

“I think it will be fun and I’ll gt to meet all kids of different people. I’ve actually never done this before,” Dallas stated before leaving.

DECA president Christian Clark has been in the club for four years. In the role of being club president Clark has to do a monthly report over all the schools in our district: Halifax, Bluestone, Parkview, Gretna, Dan River, and Tunstall. He competed in retail merchandising, was a voting delegate, and was a campaign manger. He had high expectations for the trip including, “placing 1st, moving to the national level, and making sure Aiyanna is successful in becoming a state officer,” Clark explains.

The adviser of this trip was Mrs. Baynes. Mrs. Carter, Mrs. Goard, and Baynes have helped the students prepare for months by staying after school and on Saturdays using a website called http://www.competitionuniversity.com. ” I have some that will do well and the others I expect it to be a learning experience for them to excel next year,” Baynes explained.

Junior Garrett Van Allen is Tunstall’s DECA 11th grade vice president. In addition to competing, he ran for Region 5 vice president, along with Aiyanna Lane. The pair were unsuccessful in obtaining this position. “Just hoping for the best.” Van Allen commented.

On Friday morning the group left at 7:45 am and arrived in Virginia Beach to attend two meetings and a dinner ceremony to help candidates see what office best suited them. Saturday included campaigning and competitions all day. Then Sunday concluded with a trophy ceremony and the trip home.

Tunstall students Trey Dallas and Sarah Goard both had outstanding results and received medals. Dallas was a state finalist for principles of finance and ended in the top twenty.

Goard competed in accounting and placed in the top nine in the state.

Although no students are moving on to nationals, they improved their state results from the previous year, and hope to have the returning underclassmen move on to nationals in their senior years.