Eleven Students Qualify for State DECA
Neenah High School had 11 students qualify for the state DECA championships after finishing third or higher in their categories during the district competition last weekend.
A total of 39 Neenah students competed in the virtual event with 22 students earning medalist honors. Five students received first place awards and will compete at the virtual state competition in late March. First place winners were Carson Clark and Matthew Whitmer in Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team Decision Making, Clara Padgham in Apparel and Accessories Marketing, Ian Cowell in Principles of Finance and Hannah Sabel in Principles of Hospitality and Tourism.
Second and third place finishers also advance to the state meet. Second place finishers were Sophia Hodek and Kaitlyn Dietz in Hospitality Services Team Decision Making, Emma Rundquist and Isabel Yoblonski in Travel and Tourism Team Decision Making and Abigail Wise in Automotive Services Marketing. Anabelle Hodges placed third in Principles of Hospitality and Tourism.
Students who earned individual medalist honors were Sophia Paape, Nicolas Boyer and Jennifer Murphy. Team medalist awards went to Victor Guerra and J.J. Paider, Bruce Argall and Nolan Kubiak, Mia Kinayman and Bella Wilgreen, and Sage Kirklewski and Quinn Marnocha.
For the past 75 years, DECA has prepared emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.
Neenah Debate Excels at State Meet
Neenah High School senior Megan O'Keefe earned the top speaker award in the Lincoln-Douglas division and was one of three state scholarship winners at the recent Wisconsin State Debate Tournament. Additionally, assistant coach Kaija Snyder was named the Wisconsin State Coach of the Year. This year's event was held in a virtual format with 26 schools competing.
O'Keefe finished third overall in the Lincoln-Douglas Division and totaled 175 out of a possible 180 speaker points. She also won a scholarship from the Wisconsin Debate Coaches Association for her dedication and success in debate over the last four years.
Snyder is a 2015 Neenah High School graduate and has been an assistant coach with the program since 2017 as a student at UW-Oshkosh. She has been instrumental in recruiting students to the program and having a direct result in the team's success.
Neenah also received an eighth place finish from junior Isabel Hoffman in the Lincoln-Douglas division. She finished second behind O'Keefe in the top speaker category with 173 points.
Senior Arin Pitzrik and sophomore Alex Fahrenkrug teamed to place eighth in the Policy division. Pitzrik placed 12th overall in speaker points with 168.
Additionally, freshman Sarah Hoffman placed 15th in the junior varsity division. The team's head coach is Neenah High School math teacher Andie Peterson-Longmore.
