Minnesota State Moorhead Collegiate DECA Named a Top 10 International Chapter
The Minnesota State Moorhead Collegiate DECA chapter earned a top 10 global ranking at the 2026 Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC). The recognition places Moorhead’s chapter in the highest tier of the 208 chapters operating worldwide.
The international ranking follows a season of consistent performance. Of the chapter’s 40 members, 21 competed at the state level in February. Each chapter participant performed well enough to qualify for the international competition in April. The team’s state performance included seven first-place, seven second-place, and three third-place finishes.
At the international competition in Louisville, KY., six Dragon competitors received top-tier honors. Aubrey Harvala and Daisy Hubred were named international finalists in the Business Ethics category.
Four additional students were recognized for their academic performance, earning “Top Exam Performer” status in their respective fields:
- Aaron Ainali: Financial Accounting
- Kobey Block: Entrepreneurship Operations
- Alana Brown: Hotel and Lodging
- Will Wendle: Travel and Tourism
While most chapter members study majors within the Paseka School of Business, it maintains a cross-disciplinary membership. Students from various academic backgrounds participate in the program, often outperforming peers in specialized categories.
Ralf Mehnert-Meland, chapter advisor and Associate Professor in the Paseka School of Business, credits the team’s success to a combination of student work ethic and institutional backing.
“Our DECA team members are caring, dedicated, and true team players. We also have received tremendous support from the university and our alumni, including an alumnus who is donating funds specially to our chapter every year,” says Mehnert-Meland.
Collegiate DECA is an international organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. The Moorhead chapter focuses on professional development and real-world application, helping students bridge the gap between the classroom and the professional workforce.