For the first time in over seven years, DECA will send five individuals to the DECA International competition in Anaheim, Calif. from April 26 until May 1.
The students attending, who qualified during the state competition in March, include Esti Dinets, senior, Katherine Wasserman, junior, Sofia Espinosa, junior, and William Bai,
sophomore. Also attending will be Brandn Lindsey, DECA adviser and business teacher.

Attending internationals for the first time as DECA adviser, Lindsey is excited to have the chance to finally take students to internationals.
“We haven’t gone to internationals since I became adviser,” Lindsey said. “We have usually had at least one person qualify the past couple of years, but there were always
scheduling conflicts that didn’t allow us to go.”
After being the adviser for the past seven years, Lindsey has been able to see the growth of DECA throughout that time.
“Interest in DECA has definitely increased over the past five or so years. This year we had 63 paid participants in the club with 55 actually competing in districts, 10 qualifying for the state competition, and then five qualifying for internationals. So yes, overall our numbers have grown, but not everyone who signs up ends up competing,” Lindsey said.
In her second year as a member of DECA, Katherine Wasserman, junior and Co-Vice Preseident of Student Development for DECA, qualified for both state and internationals. Wasserman enjoyed her experience at the state competition and is excited to experience internationals.
“My experience at state was pretty positive and I had a lot of fun. We got to stay overnight for a few days and it was fun getting to know all of the state qualifiers,” Wasserman said. “I think internationals will be a good opportunity to learn, and also to be able to grow the Homestead chapter and get our name out there. I’ve also never been to California, so I am excited to learn and see what experiences there are there.”
While he was unable to qualify for state or internationals this year, third-year DECA member Keaton Lewis, junior, believes he can work to hopefully qualify next year.
“In my final year of DECA I will prepare by focusing on the multiple choice test,” Lewis said. “I will take practice tests and make sure to practice on what I am confused about. I feelpretty confident with the role-plays but I sometimes struggle with the test.”