2 MTSU Jones College of Business students place third in national DECA competition
Two Middle Tennessee State University Jones College of Business students recently placed third in a national DECA competition.
Ella Cobb, a Master of Business Administration student in strategic marketing analytics, and Savanah Gill, a senior digital marketing major, attended the International Career Development Conference held last month in Louisville, Kentucky.
DECA, which stands for the Distributive Education Clubs of America, prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the world, according to the organization’s website.
As part of the conference competition, Cobb and Gill were given one hour, along with a prompt, blank paper and pens, to apply their knowledge, create applicable content and prepare a presentation.
“We were tasked with creating marketing campaigns for hypothetical companies that involved creating social media posts, updating websites, creating strategic plans to promote social media engagement, reposting to expand target markets, and conducting risk assessments,” Cobb explained.
The pair then had 15 minutes to present their marketing plan to a judge, acting as marketing director and marketing communications specialists for the hypothetical company outlined in the prompt.
After advancing into the final round and receiving a blue-ribbon medallion, Cobb and Gill competed in the finals and later learned at the awards ceremony they had scored among the top 10 competitors in marketing communications.
“We found out at the closing ceremony who placed in the finals,” Gill said. “We felt good about both rounds, but we definitely didn’t expect to place in the top three in the nation.”
The duo earned third-place trophies in Collegiate DECA Marketing Communications, securing their place among the nation’s top competitors. Both said earning the organization’s coveted glass trophy is considered a major achievement within the DECA community.
Cobb and Gill said the competition experience was especially valuable as they prepare to begin their professional careers.
“It allowed me to practice interpreting case studies and working quickly to meet a shared goal,” Cobb said. “I love working with Savanah. We already knew we worked well together when marketing was involved.”
Cobb, who also competed at the conference last year and placed in the top 10%, will graduate in August with her master’s degree.
Gill graduated May 9 with her bachelor’s degree and plans to pursue a master’s degree in digital media at MTSU.
