Date: Feb. 21, 2024

Contact: Marcia Schlottmann, Public Relations Specialist

schlottmannm@kcsd.12.or.us; 541-810-8377

Photo 1: The Henley High School DECA team celebrates a solid state conference.

Photo 2: Henley DECA seniors, along with Lily Preston, center, pose for a photo at the state conference.

Henley senior qualifies to compete at DECA international conference

A Henley High School senior has qualified to compete on the world stage at the DECA International Career Development Conference in April.

Lily Preston placed second overall in human resources management series at DECA’s State Career Development Conference competition on Feb. 12 and Feb. 13. DECA students must place in the top three to automatically qualify for the world competition.

Preston also placed eighth in hotel and lodging management series and 12 other Henley DECA competitors scored in the top 20 at the state conference.

Henley DECA advisor Sean Teaters said the competition is tough and placing in the top 20 is considered a successful conference for students as those scores are usually within a few points of the leaders.

“We had a successful trip to the Oregon State DECA Conference,” he said. “I would really like to emphasize our leadership team within the program -- Lily Preston, Hannah Rabe, Megan Rabe, Cash Row, and Kelcee Nichols. They are tremendous people and helped me this year more than they can ever realize. I am very lucky to have the opportunity to work with such a great group of students, competitors, and humans.”

The following Henley students placed in the top 20:

Lily Preston: 2nd place, Human Resource Management (International qualifier), 8th place Hotel and Lodging Management

Hannah Rabe: 10th place, Business Services Marketing

Cash Row: 12th place, Quick Serve Restaurant Management

Megan Rabe: 13th place, Entrepreneurship

Himani Patel: 13th place, Professional Selling Event

Luke Smith: 20th place, Restaurant and Food Service Management

Isabella Bruner and Lily Poore: 12th place, Buying and Merchandising Team Event

Alexandra Difani and Alexandra Meza Rodriguez: 14th place, Business Law and Ethics Team Event

Laken Delaney and Alexia Warmke: 17th place, Travel and Tourism Marketing Team Event; 20th place, Hospitality Services

Luke Smith and Max Tobiasson: 20th place, Buying and Merchandising Team Event