Following their strong performance at the district competition at Hamilton Southeastern High School on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 the UHS DECA chapter is sending 33 members to the State Career Development Conference (SCDC) in Indianapolis, Mar. 1-3, 2026.
The top performers placing first overall were senior Bella Miller-Krigger in Food Marketing and the team of junior Chase Fankhauser and senior Caleb Stocker in Financial Services. Placing second overall were junior Sonali Guttikonda in Business Services Marketing, junior Stella Meehan in Personal Financial Literacy, and senior Jordan Storey in Restaurant & Food Service Management. Placing third were senior Sruti Atluri in Quick Serve Restaurant Management, senior Madie Encinia in Restaurant & Food Service Management, and junior Renner Langellier in Entrepreneurship.
Also participating in the state competition will be seniors Aaron Cahn, Cooper Cammack, Tyler Davis, Kendall Ehnes, Philip Jacobs, Naaima Mahmood, Harris Nachlis, and Sam Purdie; juniors Cavan Adams, Sia Bhale, Ava Deng, Lane Dryden, Elliot Glennan, Steve Hackwelder, Audrey Ko, Kai Newton, Sophie Stratman, and Walter Wilson; sophomores Brecken Dinges, Julian Eli, Helen Ernst, and Garrett Mills. Senior Ked Laborsky and junior David Gasper will also participate in the state competition, presenting a business plan, which does not require district-level participation.