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WWU DECA students shine at state competition, receive national honor

March 13, 2026

by Jennifer Nerad

University Communications

Western Washington University's DECA students achieved outstanding results at the Washington State Collegiate DECA Competition, held at Columbia Basin College in Pasco on March 7.

All 10 competitors placed either first or second in their respective categories.

WWU DECA is a competitive business and professional development student organization where students can develop leadership skills, network with business leaders and entrepreneurs, and prepare for successful careers through real-world experiences. The club is advised by the College of Business and Economics Professional and Career Readiness Director Morgan Widden.

"I can confidently say that our WWU DECA students are following the vision of DECA to become emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in the community," said Widden. "I cannot wait to hear what the future holds for these incredible students!"

This year's awardees are:

• Kayleigh Bader, a junior in Marketing with an Economics minor from Everett, also the president of WWU DECA, was awarded first place in the Individual Travel and Tourism Case Study Event.
• Gabrielle Smith, a senior from Seattle who is majoring in Environmental Policy with minors in Food Security and Policy, Economics, and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies, and the vice president of operations for WWU DECA, was awarded first place in the Individual Sales Management and Leadership Case Study Event.
• Sammy Reid, a sophomore in Marketing and Management and the vice president of marketing for WWU DECA, from Vancouver, Washington, was awarded first place in the Individual Hotel and Lodging Case Study Event.
• Madeleine Evans, a sophomore in Management from Issaquah, was awarded second place in the Individual Marketing Management Case Study Event.
• Den Villegas, a junior in Marketing from Port Orchard, was awarded first place in the Individual Fashion Merchandising and Marketing Case Study Event.
• Christopher Lee, a sophomore in Management from Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, was awarded second place in the Individual Human Resource Management Case Study Event.
• Mia Lewis, a College of Business and Economics pre-major from Vancouver, Washington, was awarded first place in the Individual Human Resource Management Case Study Event.
• Miriam Alexa Garcia Jimenez, a sophomore Accounting major with Music minor from Mount Vernon, was awarded first place in the Individual Financial Accounting Case Study Event.
• Philomene Hudry, a sophomore from Kirkland majoring in Business and Sustainability and minoring in Economics, and Caitrin McKinney, a sophomore from Lacey majoring in Journalism and minoring in Religion and Culture, received first place in the Team Business-to-Business Marketing Case Study Event.

The competition challenges students in presentation, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Competitors in each individual and team case study category were given their case challenge, had 30 minutes to prepare, and 15 minutes to present to a series of judges before being scored against their competitors.

In addition to their individual successes, WWU DECA was honored with the national DECA Chapter Leadership Passport, recognizing the chapter's exemplary leadership and positive impact throughout the WWU and greater Bellingham community. WWU was the only chapter in Washington state to receive this distinction.

Kayleigh Bader, Gabrielle Smith, Sammy Reid, Christopher Lee, and Miriam Alexa Garcia Jimenez will represent WWU at the upcoming DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Louisville, Kentucky, in April.

Learn more about WWU DECA and other student clubs in the College of Business and Economics.

Jennifer Nerad covers Western's College of Business and Economics and College of the Environment for the Office of University Communications. Have a great story idea? Reach out to her at [email protected].