University High School’s DECA chapter wrapped up a historic and exciting trip to the 2025 International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Orlando, Florida. Over five days, six student competitors—Emily Ganter, Phifer Whorley, Eleanor Dillman, Katy Morcos, Stacy Xu, and Laine Spears—attended the international event alongside advisor Mr. Mike Hagan. This year, University students competed in categories including Marketing Communications, Accounting Applications, Quick Serve Restaurant Management, Personal Financial Literacy, and the Community Giving Project.
Senior Emily Ganter reflected on the experience: “It was an amazing trip. Mr. Hagan made sure we had just as much time to have fun as we did to compete. It was a great group of people, and we all loved cheering each other on in our events. The best part of the trip was when DECA rented out Universal Studios for a night. It was the perfect way to end my senior year of DECA. I’m so grateful to have gone to ICDC with such a great group of people and an amazing advisor, Mr. Hagan.”
This year marked a milestone for UHS DECA, as senior Laine Spears became the first-ever ICDC finalist from University High School. Competing in Personal Financial Literacy, Laine placed in the top 20 out of nearly 200 international qualifiers—a tremendous accomplishment.
With six students qualifying for ICDC, this year’s DECA team tied the school’s all-time record for participation. The group’s achievements are a testament to their preparation, drive, and leadership, as well as the guidance and support of a very dedicated advisor!
University High School is proud of our DECA students for their success on the international stage and the way they represented our school with excellence.