Westonka DECA Attends 'Ultimate Power Trip' Conference in D.C.

Westonka DECA made its first-ever trip to the Ultimate DECA Power Trip, an annual leadership conference held Nov. 20-23 in Washington, D.C. 

Senior members of the Westonka DECA officer team spent the four-day conference building leadership skills, exploring career and industry opportunities, and preparing for college. In addition to attending workshops, members took part in a DECA role play competition that recognized the Top 50 participants for their high performance. Senior Leif Hagen was one of three Minnesota DECA members to walk away with a Top 50 medal for his role play performance.

Beyond the conference, the Westonka DECA chapter toured several historic sites around the nation's capital. Students visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the National Air and Space Museum, and the Capitol, including a tour of the House floor. They also participated in a monument tour that included stops at the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima). 

More than 3,000 DECA members from 48 states attended this year’s conference. Hagen described the experience as both inspiring and unforgettable.

"The Ultimate DECA Power Trip was by far one of the most meaningful and exciting trips I've taken since joining DECA my freshman year,” Hagen said. “The combination of touring historical monuments while attending career, college, and leadership workshops and competitions was the perfect mix for a four-day weekend in Washington, D.C.! Listening to the speakers at the opening ceremony share their leadership journeys made my friends and me think deeper about our own futures, and set the tone for an inspiring and fun weekend. I would 100% recommend this trip to any chapter looking to take the next step and elevate their students’ DECA experience."