Skip to content Skip to navigation

Gateway students bring home several state DECA honors; qualify for nationals

Two students from Gateway Collegiate DECA captured first-place honors – and 12 took second place or third place – at the 54th Wisconsin Collegiate DECA annual Spring Competitive Events Conference held March 3 to March 6 in Madison.

Students also took first place as a group, as well.

The strong showing results in several Gateway students qualifying for the International Career Development Conference to be held April 15-April 21 in Washington DC.

Students capturing first-place honors, and the event they competed in:

  • Sergio Casillas (Racine), Professional Sales
  • Ashley Dumas (Sturtevant), Banking and Financial Services
  • The chapter also took first place for the William Marotz Region of the Year Award

Students capturing second-place honors, and the event they competed in:

  • Diana Griego (Union Grove), Professional Sales
  • Brandy Hickey (Kenosha), Sales Manager Meeting
  • Bruce Townsel (Kenosha), Entrepreneurship Growing a Business
  • The team of Rachel Gauss (Kenosha) and Jessica Harris (Kenosha), International Marketing
  • The team of Magnolia Ruet (Burlington) and Hickey, Entrepreneurship Starting a Business
  • Lindsey Brieske (Racine), Wisconsin Collegiate DECA Student of the Year

Students taking third-place honors, and the event they competed in:

  • Mary Hvizdak (Sturtevant), Professional Sales
  • David Czuper (Racine), Travel and Tourism
  • Griego, Fashion Merchandising & Management
  • Adrian Laluz, (Kenosha) Human Resources Management

In addition, the chapter took home the following honors, as well:

  • Magnolia Ruet (Burlington), Bruce Townsel (Kenosha) and Mary Hvizdak (Sturtevant) were selected as Wisconsin Collegiate DECA Student of the Year finalists
  • Hickey and Hvizdak were selected as Howard R. Bud Laatsch Service Scholarship Award winners
  • David Czuper (Racine), Magnolia Ruet (Burlington) Bruce Townsel (Kenosha) and Adrian Laluz (Kenosha) were selected as Mae J. Laatsch Scholarship

Several Gateway students were finalists and qualified to compete at the international conference in the following events, as well:

  • Violeta Tellez (Chicago), Entrepreneurship Starting a Business & Hotel and Lodging
  • Casillas, Restaurant and Food Service Management
  • Jordan Woynikio (Kenosha), Corporate Finance
  • Heather Rupp (Caledonia) and Kayla Mumford (Kenosha), Sales Manager Meeting
  • Hans Freishmein (Kenosha), Juan Salazar (Racine), Kristin Pincus (Salem), Rosalba Vega (Kenosha), Yoger Aguliar (Kenosha), Norma Gonzales (Kenosha), Sara Vega (Bristol), Brieske, David Czuper (Racine), Mumford , Adrain Laluz (Kenosha), Gauss, Professional Sales
  • Elizabeth Michaelski Reis (Racine) and Brady Ritacco (Racine), Team Business to Business Marketing
  • Kristin Pinkus (Salem), Finalist Retail Management
  • Samantha Perez (Racine) and Lauren Boston (Kenosha), Team Sports and Event Marketing
  • Armando Gollaz (Racine), Entrepreneurship Starting a Business
  • Hans Freishmein (Kenosha) and Magnolia Ruet (Burlington), Marketing Management