Guest Author: Bella Rainey, Instructor, School of Visual and Communication Arts + DECA Advisor
FEBRUARY 14, 2025, COLUMBIA, MO – The Avila University DECA Chapter reached new heights at the Missouri Collegiate DECA Conference on Friday, February 14, in Columbia, Missouri.
With 16 total competing members, Avila DECA brought home 14 trophies while competing against several other Missouri chapters and 180+ other students. These awards include:
- 3rd Place Advertising Campaign: Issy Aguilar and Susana Mondragon
- 3rd Place Business Research: Liz Lopez
- 2nd Place Entrepreneurship Starting a Business: Jibran Ullah (JB)
- 3rd Place Event Planning: Elizabeth Bennes and Susana Mondragon
- 1st Place Sports Marketing: Avery Williams and Rhett Rogers
- 3rd Place Sports Marketing: Nathaniel Eckert and Issy Aguilar
- 2nd Place Fashion Merchandising and Marketing: Nathaniel Eckert
- 2nd Place Retail Management: Isaiah Keepes
Alongside the chapter’s success in the competitive events, they also scored big in other categories. Executive Board member Isaiah Keepes was awarded the Member of the Year by the Missouri Collegiate DECA Association. Keepes was also voted the 2025-2026Missouri Collegiate DECA President.
In addition, the Avila University chapter was awarded the Chapter of the Year by the Missouri Collegiate DECA Association. This success marks immense growth for the Avila DECA chapter, bringing over double the amount of competitors from last year to this year’s conference, as well as doubling the number of trophies to add to the Dallavis lobby.
Avila University DECA hopes to continue their success at the Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference in San Francisco this April.