With official conferences and competitions beginning in 2027, there are still many great ways to participate and qualify for ICDC in this fall semester. Here are three ways you can be able to engage with DECA these upcoming months:

Submit to Corporate Challenges

Corporate Challenges serve as a tangible opportunity for you to qualify for ICDC and win glass before you even step into Districts or SCDC. Hosted by partner organizations, Corporate Challenges invite DECA members to film videos, create pitch decks, and run projects. Notable challenges include the EHL Hospitality Business School’s Hospitality Sustainability Innovation Challenge where a group of 1 to 4 participants present a 5 minute pitch on a digital experience for strengthening the sustainability efforts of a hospitality brand. Additionally, the Knowledge Matters Digital Presentation Challenge invites students to develop a 1 to 2 minute presentation on any topic relating to one of the Knowledge Matters business simulations. Competing in these challenges not only sharpens your real-world business skills but also offers a great way to engage with DECA beyond the live conferences.

Apply for DECA Scholarships

If you are a Junior or Senior, DECA offers various scholarships that you may qualify for. Due on January 11 2027, these scholarships offer up to $2,500 for students interested in pursuing futures in any of the DECA clusters. DECA members can apply for two main types of scholarships: general regional awards (such as the Western Region DECA scholarship, which offers two $1,000 prizes) and corporate-sponsored awards (such as Raising Cane’s which provides five $1,000 scholarships to students either working at Raising Canes or interested in restaurant management and the food industry). Moreover, students participating in School-Based Entrepreneurships can also qualify for the NRF Foundation SBE Innovation scholarship and the Otis Spunkmeyer scholarship. Scholarships serve as a great way to both gain financial support for your college education but also extend your engagement with DECA.

Submit ICDC Merch Designs to California DECA

Beyond DECA Inc, California DECA also has opportunities for members to engage in. Each year at ICDC, California DECA provides students with goodie bags that include cowboy hats and t-shirts. This year, we are asking you to submit your designs for our ICDC merch. You can submit a design for a cowboy hat band or for the t-shirt. Winners will be recognized at our ICDC delegation meeting in Anaheim and will have their designs on all our official gear this April in Anaheim. If you are interested in submitting, follow the California DECA Instagram page (@californiadeca) to see updates regarding this competition.

Post by: Katie Ong | California DECA VP of Leadership