Three D38 students earned state championships at the 2022 state DECA competition in March. Palmer Ridge High School students Danielle Day, Nicole Day and James Baumert each earned state championship titles for coming in first place in their Marketing Management Team and Sports and Entertainment Marketing projects respectively.
More than 80 D38 students competed in the statewide competition, with 65 students competing from Palmer Ridge High School and 16 competing on behalf of Lewis-Palmer High School. Dozens came away with some form of award or recognition.
“First and most importantly, I must say that our students represented. Not just in competition, but as respectful and mature young adults throughout,” said Courtney Bushnell, PRHS DECA adviser.
The winners and finalists from Palmer Ridge include:
| State Champion | 1st | Danielle | Day | Marketing Management Team | |
| State Champion | 1st | Nicole | Day | Marketing Management Team | |
| State Champion | 1st | James | Baumert | Sports and Entertainment Marketing | |
| 2nd | Mackenzie | Culver | Apparel and Accessories Marketing | ||
| 2nd | Claire | Deeds | Travel and Tourism Team | ||
| 2nd | Carly | Hanney | Travel and Tourism Team | ||
| 5th | Danielle | Day | Independent Business Plan | ||
| 5th | Nicole | Day | Independent Business Plan | ||
| 5th | Riley | Marr | Principles of Finance | ||
| 5th | Max | Paulik | Business Operations Research – Sports and Entertainment | ||
| 5th | Ethan | Twesme | Business Operations Research – Sports and Entertainment | ||
| 6th | Madeline | Cump | Apparel and Accessories Marketing | ||
| 6th | Ava | Connelly | Entrepreneurship |
Finalists from Palmer Ridge include:
| Finalist/Alternate | Ava | Connelly | Integrated Marketing Campaign – Event | |
| Finalist/Alternate | Aidan | Fletcher | Financial Services Team | |
| Finalist/Alternate | Ethan | Hulting | Financial Services Team | |
| Finalist/Alternate | Jillian | Gallagher | Hospitality Services Team | |
| Finalist/Alternate | Anisa | Hajibrahim | Hospitality Services Team | |
| Finalist/Alternate | Erin | Kaelin | Hospitality Services Team | |
| Finalist/Alternate | Jordan | Kolhouse | Hospitality Services Team | |
| Finalist/Alternate | Clara | Park | Hospitality Services Team | |
| Finalist/Alternate | Grace | Carlander | Human Resources Management | |
| Finalist/Alternate | Kaylee | Cline | Marketing Communications | |
| Finalist/Alternate | Lilianna | Nono | Business Operations Research – Hospitality and Tourism | |
| Finalist/Alternate | Jamie | Pittner | Restaurant and Food Service | |
| Finalist/Alternate | Ashley | Hardman | International Business Plan |
At Lewis-Palmer High School, which is deliberately rebuilding a DECA program under Byron Trop, 16 students competed and represented a building block for the future of the program.
“Four of our students qualified for event finals. Anna Grothe qualified in Hotel Management. Sammie Weese, Alyssa Brainard and Maya Schelger made their event final for the Business Operations Research Project. Please congratulate them on a job well done,” said Trop.
Both Lewis-Palmer High School and Palmer Ridge High School received district recognition for their efforts and successes at the March 14 Board of Education meeting.