DECA’s Challenges provide members opportunities to demonstrate the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom through innovative challenges in partnership with several corporate partners. Each challenge has a unique focus and a specific set of required tasks and timelines.
This year, our partners have provided our members with ten different corporate challenges with which to compete. The top performers will receive recognition on stage at DECA ICDC in Orlando, FL, this April. Learn more about each challenge below:
1. BusinessU: DECA at the Bell Challenge
Write and produce your very own episode of DECA at the Bell. Creativity is encouraged; what matters most is the ability to engage the audience while connecting something in the world of business to the world of DECA. The topic/theme of the 2024 challenge is Customer Service.
- Who: 2-4 members
- What: 3:30 minute video
- Due: November 1
2. Zurn Elkay Water Solutions: Sustainable Water Drinking Challenge
Zurn Elkay would like to challenge students to study and assess their school system’s clean/healthy drinking water solutions. Students will create a video of their product/service recommendations on clean/healthy drinking water solutions.
- Who: 1-3 members
- What: 5 minute video
- Due: November 1
3. Stukent: Social Media Marketing Challenge
Take charge of a dynamic simulated company, strategically allocating your ad budget to maximize revenue. Craft captivating content, engage target audiences and analyze your metrics across simulation rounds. Showcase your social media marketing skills in this exciting challenge.
- Who: Individual
- What: Virtual Simulation
- When: October 1 - December 1
4. IE University: Policy Dilemma Simulation Challenge
In this challenge, you are the government of a medium-sized developed country with its own currency and central bank. You control fiscal, monetary, structural and exchange rate policy, and face elections at least every four years. Every policy decision that you make has an impact. Its objective is to review the basic concepts of macroeconomics, especially those related to policy, and to understand the effects of policy, external shocks and factors that lead to long-term, stable economic growth.
- Who: 2-3 members
- What: Virtual simulation with 1-2 page reflection and 3-5 minute video
- Due: November 20
5. MBA Research and Daniels Fund: Ethical Leadership Challenge
Develop a public service announcement (PSA) video describing one of the following ethical principles: fairness, rule of law or transparency. The PSA should be designed to educate your local community and those afar through social media.
- Who: 1-4 members
- What: 3-5 minute video
- Due: December 2
6. Adobe Personal Branding Challenge
Develop a comprehensive personal brand that includes a logo, résumé and personal vision statement. Create your personal brand using Adobe Express tools and submit your project components as PDFs.
- Who: Individual
- What: Personal branded website
- Due: December 20
7. Adobe Food Truck Challenge
Develop a comprehensive food truck concept that includes branding, truck design, menu creation and social media marketing. Create your concept using Adobe Express tools, submit your project components on the website template and present a summary of your concept in an up to 60-second video.
- Who: 3-4 members
- What: Link to Adobe Food Truck website and a 30-60 sec video
- Due: January 17
8. Knowledge Matters: Digital Presentation Skills Challenge
Demonstrate your digital presentation skills utilizing a Virtual Business simulation in a one- to two-minute digital presentation. The top finalists will deliver a live, digital presentation.
- Who: Individual
- What: 1-2 minute presentation
- Due: January 31
9. NAA: Auction Marketing Campaign Challenge
Develop a marketing campaign for a full estate sale that will utilize the live auction method and include both real estate and personal property. Present your marketing campaign that will use social, print, and email direct marketing strategies in a video presentation.
- Who: 1-3 members
- What: 4 minute video
- Due: February 1
10. NPCF: Social Impact Leader of Tomorrow Challenge
Demonstrate your creativity by producing the next big cause marketing idea for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. DECA chapters can participate by developing and executing a unique fundraising campaign with a social media component and video.
- Who: 1-3 members
- What: 4 minute video
- Due: February 6
11. MDA: Disability is Diversity Challenge
Create a focused Disability Is Diversity presentation that highlights the obstacles and experience of navigating an educational environment with differing abilities. Learn first-hand about the barriers encountered by a student with a disability and determine how you can advocate for needed change.
- Who: 1-3 members
- What: 4 minute video
- Due: February 14
12. Invest: Innovation in Action - Driving Next Gen to Insurance Challenge
Develop a new and innovative marketing campaign to creatively rebrand the insurance industry to Gen Z. Use your creativity to brand insurance career opportunities in a dynamic way to help insurance companies/agencies recruit young talent.
- Who: 1-3 members
- What: 3-5 minute video
- Due: February 28
