Students with a knack for business win big at state competition

Young entrepreneurs with business sense from Flathead, Glacier and Whitefish high schools had another year of success at the Montana DECA Conference.

Students competed in various events in business management and administration, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing and hospitality and tourism from Feb. 5-7.

Glacier won the most events at state, 18, and remains undefeated in the annual Shark Tank Challenge, winning $1,000.

Flathead received the Spirit Award traveling trophy, which is given to the chapter that “goes above and beyond,” in showing leadership and professionalism at state during the competition and through its participation in other activities. Flathead was also recognized for having the largest chapter. Additionally, Flathead received certification for a school-based enterprise.

Both Flathead and Glacier achieved Thrive Level status in recognition of the work the respective chapters did to grow their membership.

State officers were also selected — Katy Bitney and Elise Strobel, both from Glacier, and Carter Bullens from Flathead.

Depending on the event, students in the top two or three spots advance to the International Career Development Conference scheduled for April 22-35 in Florida. Students who qualify in multiple state events may only choose one event to compete in at the international level.

Following are local results.

The top two in the following events qualify for the international conference.

Business Growth Plan

1 Aidan Walker, Glacier

Business Services Operations Research

1 Timmy Glanville, Kaitlyn Illi and Ryan Webster, Glacier

3 Allison Abel, Grace Sebby and Elennah Wynn, Whitefish

5 Mary Mercer and Myli Ridgeway, Whitefish

Business Solutions Project

2 Logan Bingham, Jake Dunker and Hagen Prather, Whitefish

Buying and Merchandising Operations Research

2 Bailey Kallal, Lauren Rossi and Iona Sarraille, Whitefish

Community Awareness Project

4 Georgia Morrell and Kaitleen To

5 Sydney Buckmaster and CJ Thew, Whitefish

Community Giving Project

1 Katy Bitney and Elise Strobel, Glacier

3 Avery Dunker, Rya Hirsh and Maggie Pulsifer, Whitefish

Finance Operations Research

2 Maddy Muhlfeld, Johnny Nix and Tevan Solomon, Whitefish

Franchise Business Plan

3 Payzlee Boyce and Ally Pollan, Flathead

Hospitality and Tourism Operations Research

3 Selah Hagler and Bowdrie Krack, Whitefish

4 Jesse Burrough, Mason Genovese and Olivia Genovese, Whitefish

5 Cody Hoover and Linnea McCrady, Whitefish

Innovation Plan

1 Matthew Himsl, Andrew Johnson and Ada Milner, Flathead

4 Mikenna Conan and Lilli Eash, Flathead

Integrated Marketing Campaign (event)

2 Maddie Davis and Haven Speer, Glacier

Integrated Marketing Campaign (product)

3 Allison Abel, Grace Sebby and Elennah Wynn, Whitefish

Integrated Marketing Campaign (services)

1 Charlie Hyatt and Matthew Peschel, Whitefish

Sports and Entertainment Operations Research

1 Avery Dunker and Rya Hirsh, Whitefish

2 Alex Bourque and Christian Schwaderer, Whitefish

Start-up Business Plan

1 Katie Brearey, Sophia Huerta and Clara Jones, Flathead

5 Wyatt Kaszuba, Gavin Mayo and Ethan Schott, Whitefish

The top three in the following events qualify for the international conference.

Business Law and Ethics Team Decision

3 Johnny Nix and Tevan Solomon, Whitefish

4 Isaac Brown and Blake Lindemann, Glacier

5 Natalee Lembke and Wyatt Thompson, Flathead

6 Luke Leech and Orion Preszler, Flathead

8 Liesel Esser and Maya Kinkaid, Glacier

Buying and Merchandising Team Decision Making

1 Carter Bullins and Miller Bushnell, Flathead

3 Jack Boone and Alyssa Conrad, Glacier

4 Alessandro Pipolo and Ali Putzler, Flathead

5 Kevin Fortin and Quindy Gronley, Glacier

7 Easton Capser and Mia Stephan, Flathead

8 Quinn Berkram and Marlo Carpenter, Glacier

Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making

1 Sarah Downs and Calvin Schmidt, Glacier

4 Hailey Hendrickson and Dorian Roettig, Flathead

5 Zoey Marzo and Gretel Vine, Whitefish

6 Alex Hudson and Emmery Schmidt, Glacier

8 Kevin Fortin and Logan Marlow, Glacier

Financial Services Team Decision Making

4 Cadence Murcray and Aidan Walker, Glacier

7 Jake Dunker and CJ Thew, Whitefish

8 Akilah Kubi and Natalee Lembke, Flathead

Hospitality Services Team Decision Making

2 Isaac Brown and Blake Lindemann, Glacier

4 Clara Jones and Thomas Konopka, Flathead

5 Mason Genovese and Charlie Hyatt, Whitefish

8 Alex Hudson and Emmery Schmidt, Glacier

Marketing Management Team Decision

1 Harrison Sanders and Calvin Schmidt, Glacier

2 Gavin Emerson and Hailey Hendrickson, Flathead

3 Amelia Mason and James Moody, Flathead

4 Ada Milner and Brett Pesola, Flathead

6 Baylanna Brash and Libby Peltz, Flathead

Sports and Entertainment Team Decision Making

1 Harrison Sanders and Ethan Woods, Glacier

2 Sam Engellant and Jack Syverson, Glacier

3 Ainsley Scott and Brooke Zetooney, Whitefish

4 Carter Bullins and Caiyou Witts, Flathead

5 Ava Bee and Gretel Vine, Whitefish

6 Quinn Berkram and Marlo Carpenter, Glacier

7 Selena Simms and Madison Stanwood, Whitefish

Travel and Tourism Team Decision Making

2 Selah Conklin and Elise Plum, Glacier

4 Quindy Gronley and Claire Schwaller, Glacier

6 Emma Ferguson-Reiner and Kenzie Nordness, Glacier

7 Lilli Eash and Jackson Walker, Flathead

8 Alivia Rinehart and Eliska Tornerova, Flathead