Cathedral DECA!
By Aaron LeVey, Writer
Cathedral DECA is an international organization that prepares high school and college students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Through competitive events, leadership activities, and business simulations, DECA helps students develop real-world skills such as public speaking, teamwork, problem-solving, and professional communication. Members participate in role-plays, case studies, and presentations that simulate real business situations. These experiences allow students to think critically and apply classroom knowledge to real-life challenges they might face in future careers.
Students from schools in El Paso, Texas, participated in regional DECA competitions on January 9th of this year. Cathedral students have been preparing for this event since the beginning of the school year. At these regional events, students compete against other schools in various business categories such as marketing management, finance operations, entrepreneurship, and hospitality services. Competitors are judged on how well they analyze business problems, present solutions, and demonstrate professional skills. Regional competitions are an important first step because they give students the opportunity to qualify for the next level of competition. Most students in Cathedral’s DECA chapter qualified for the state championship in February.
Cathedral’s Official DECA Flag
The state competition brings together top DECA members from across Texas to compete at a higher level. At this event, students participate in more advanced role-plays, written projects, and presentations in front of experienced judges from the business community. The 2026 state conference is not only about competition but also about leadership development, networking, and career exploration. Many students attend workshops, meet business professionals, and connect with other DECA members from across the state.
The participants arrived in Dallas on February 19th and later that day met with the soccer players attending the event who were competing at their state championships. That night, the students caught up on homework and studied their events for the competitions the next day. The following day featured an all-day competition event where every participant and category presented their projects. Later that night, the organization hosted a Casino night, which helped the participants get to know each other. The next day, February 21st, was the announcement of who would move on to nationals, which is located in Atlanta, Georgia. Unfortunately, none of the Cathedral participants qualified beyond the state level, but, for the first year in Cathedral history, this was a remarkable achievement and a valuable learning experience.