Picture, if you will the most prestigious professional organization within your industry. The spokes of this professional organization are many and go deep and wide to fulfill all the needs of its members. Its members know that if they want to get anywhere within their profession, they must join their professional organization to network and utilize all it has to offer. If a need arises that is not presently included, the organization will rise to the occasion and create another spoke to fulfill the need. DECA: An Association of Marketing Students (formerly known as Distributive Education Clubs of America) is just such a professional organization at the high school level!
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The official DECA emblem is a diamond shaped symbol whose points correlate to the organization's foundation principles. When these principles are integrated into the daily curriculum, students develop valuable career and living skills.
 Career Technical Understanding
DECA provides a relevant and exciting platform to achieve industry performance standards and to explore and experience career fields of interest. Students enhance their technical understanding by participating in a variety of DECA activities, including competitive role-playing judged by industry partners, comprehensive exams, and research and team projects.
Leadership Development
through DECA activities, students are given opportunities to participate in local, state, and national activities designed to develop leadership skills. They can learn to value themselves and their potential. Students learn to listen, deliberate, question and think critically while working in teams. Opportunities are available for them to serve as chapter officers, committee members, and chapter spokespersons; attend conferences; plan and conduct elections and meetings; and develop a program of work. They learn the importance of teamwork and cohesiveness in managing an organization.
Civic Consciousness
Civic activities are conducted by many chapters to serve the school and the community. Civic projects can take many forms and are frequently conducted in cooperation with local business organizations, school organizations, and civic groups. Participants may develop leadership characteristics, self-confidence, high ethical standards, effective interpersonal skills, and social and business etiquette. Perhaps most importantly, students learn to recognize and value the responsibilities of citizenship.
Social Intelligence
DECA provides numerous occasions for students to interact with peers and adults on professional and social levels and to develop the poise and social skills that will benefit them in the business environment and in daily life. These important lifetime skills are constantly reinforced through discussion, demonstration, and modeling.
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