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Ideas, Insights, and Inspirations - Where to look for scholarship opportunties

 
 

By aneesh chintala

Lebanon Trail High School

 

Money, Money, Money: Finding Scholarships

What are scholarships?

For those of you applying to college soon (juniors and seniors), you probably know that paying for college is quite... expensive. However, scholarships, which are usually monetary awards given to students to help pay for education, typically based on merit, need, or specific qualifications, and don't have to be repaid. They can help students pay for specific needs when it comes to paying for housing, food, classes, and more!

So how can they help?

For students who may struggle paying tuition or other areas of their college life, scholarships provide a gateway to lessen the burden of these heavy costs. They can support students without financial stress paving the way for potential opportunities.

Some helpful examples include:

  • Tuition Assistance: Scholarships can cover part or all of a student's tuition fees, making higher education more affordable.

  • Living Expenses: Some scholarships provide funds for housing, meals, and other living costs.

  • Textbooks and Materials: Scholarships can help pay for textbooks, laptops, and other school supplies, which can be expensive.

  • Study Abroad: Scholarships often cover international study programs, allowing students to experience education in other countries.

  • Specialized Programs: Scholarships targeted at specific fields (like STEM or the arts) support students pursuing their passions and encourage further expertise.

DECA inc. Scholarships

As a student organization, DECA has various examples of scholarships that can support members, alumni, and advisors! These scholarships range between the district, state, and international levels.

These DECA scholarships can be found on the DECA website for students to apply to.

There are various scholarships for members interested in several fields of business, finance, hospitality, administration, and entrepreneurship.

There are two scholarship programs with various scholarships within!

  • Corporate Scholarship Program

  • Harry Applegate Scholarship Program

To apply, log into your DECA student member portal, and complete the application found there!

Texas DECA Scholarships

Our chartered association of Texas offers our own Texas DECA Scholarships. “Texas DECA offers seven (7) $1,000 scholarships for the purpose of giving recognition and financial support to senior students who are official members of Texas DECA and intend to pursue a career in the area of business/marketing.”

For more information and the application information:

https://www.texasdeca.org/scholarships

Other Scholarship Sources

Whether you are a senior finishing up college applications, or a sophomore just starting our DECA journey, I highly recommend starting the search for scholarship opportunities! But you may not know where to start so here are a few resources to help you begin!

I would highly suggest applying to as many scholarships as possible–there’s tons of them available for students–in order to eventually lessen the costs for higher education.

How can I start?

The search for scholarships does not have to be tedious and complicated! An easy way is creating a spreadsheet of potential scholarships, their description, and the due date! It can be as simple as that. Finally, DO NOT WAIT, scholarships can be earned before senior year and most organizations that offer them will hold onto them until necessary. Therefore, the earlier the better so start your scholarship search now! With the right planning and effort, you're one step closer to securing funding for your education.

Ideas, Insights, and Inspirations - 5 Tips for College Applications

 
 

By NIKITA SURESH

Emerson High School

 

Applying to college can be overwhelming, but with the right approach, you can make the process smoother and more successful. Here are five tips to help you navigate your college applications:

1. Start Early and Plan Ahead

  • CREATE A TIMELINE: List important deadlines for applications, scholarships, and financial aid.

  • STAY ORGANIZED: Use a planner or digital tool to track tasks and deadlines.

2. Highlight Your DECA Experience

  • SHOWCASE LEADERSHIP & ACHIEVEMENTS: Use your DECA involvement to demonstrate skills like leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving.

  • INCLUDE AWARDS & ACCOLADES: Make sure to highlight any DECA awards or recognitions in your applications.

3. Research Colleges Thoroughly

  • EXPLORE DECA-AFFILIATED SCHOOLS: Some colleges have strong DECA programs or offer scholarships for DECA members.

  • VISIT CAMPUSES: Whether virtually or in person, get to know the schools you're interested in.

4. Prepare for Interviews

  • PRACTICE YOUR RESPONSES: Be ready to discuss your DECA experiences and why you're interested in each school.

  • DRESS PROFESSIONALLY: First impressions matter, even in virtual settings.

5. Use DECA Resources

  • DECA DIRECT: Find articles and advice on college applications.

  • ATTEND DECA WORKSHOPS: Participate in college planning sessions and webinars.

These tips can help you present yourself as a well-rounded and prepared applicant. Good luck!

References

Ideas, Insights, and Inspirations - Ways to Get Your Chapter Engaged

By Kathryn Lock

Round Rock High School

 

Whether you’re leading a chapter of 10 or 500, engagement is crucial to a successful DECA chapter. I’ve broken down engagement into 3 categories: competition, community service, career preparation. 

COMPETITION

EVENT SELECTION

  • Keep prospective members interested in joining DECA by hosting ‘speed dating’ for various events. Have stations where veteran members give a 1-2 minute pitch of the event. By the end of the meeting, members will have an accurate understanding of several events.

TEST PREP

  • Host a live Kahoot tournament using cluster exam questions. Bring snacks and increase the stakes by offering DECA swag to the winner!

COMMUNITY SERVICE

COLLAB WITH OTHER SCHOOLS

  • Members can connect with students from other schools and also reconnect with people they’ve met at previous conferences/events

  • If you are a small chapter this is a great way to pull off a bigger service event

  • Offering the opportunity to connect with students outside of competition allows members to see DECA as more than just a competition club

  • Bonus: you can work towards completing your Texas Two-Step campaign

CAREER PREPARATION

GUEST SPEAKERS

  • Ask community leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals from diverse background to talk on a topic of your choice

  • Topics can include different paths to careers, roles within a start-up, or how to get experience while still in high school

  • Having guest speakers highlights the connections that DECA can bring

Ideas, Insights, and Inspirations - Summer To-Do List

 
 

By Mariyam Khazi, District 5 Vice President

Round Rock High School

 

Destination: DECA Success 2024-2025!

Travel Dates: May - August

The DECA To-Do List:

  • Select your event!

  • Start preparing for your event: whether this be studying for your cluster exam or starting your written event paper!

  • If you’re serving as a chapter/district officer, schedule meetings with your team to plan for the 24-25 competitive school year!

  • Keep up with your District! Attend socials that the District may be hosting. Network!

Jobs/Interning:

  • Finding a part-time job can help cure the annual summer boredom! Consider: ice cream stores, tutoring centers, lifeguarding, restaurants, etc.

  • Look into internships for your desired career field: visit LinkedIn and other job sites to find opportunities. 

  • Apply! Apply! Apply! The worst response you can get is a no, and the more chances you take, the better results you will get!

  • Cold email/call! There’s no harm in reaching out to get information about potential opportunities!

Take a Breather:

  • Take some time this summer to rewind and relax! It’s supposed to be a break, so treat it like one!

  • Spend quality time with friends and family to catch up!

  • Travel! Go places, connect with nature, and enjoy what’s around you!

To be a successful DECA member this year, it is essential to find a good work-life balance. This summer is the perfect time to create a plan for the upcoming school & competitive year, while also discovering habits that work best for you. For many DECA members, school is starting up next month (we’re already halfway through summer!) so make sure to utilize this time to do what you need to do. Once you get back into the hustle-bustle of school life, it is necessary to have good balancing habits in place so you don’t get overwhelmed.

​​Now, for a more “DECA” approach, for those of you that would like to begin preparation for your events, the DECA Guide for 2024-2025 has been released! Resources for roleplay and written/prepared events are all available here!

Ideas, insights, and inspirations - College Preparation Outlook

By Andres Valle, Montwood High School, District 10 President 24-25

Preparing for college can feel overwhelming, like preparing for a DECA event at the last minute. Just kidding! Well, sort of. The college application process is intimidating for EVERYONE, so don’t stress about trying to do everything perfectly. Colleges want to see the real you – your personality, experiences, and thoughts. My friend, who’s now headed to Yale, gave me the best advice: It’s not about how much you do but what you do with your opportunities. With that in mind, here are a few things I’ve been doing to prepare for college.

1. Start Early!

Do not wait until the last minute to start thinking about college. Start early so you have plenty of time to research schools, prepare for tests, and get your applications in without stressing out.

2. Research Colleges!

Take some time to look into different colleges and find the ones that really fit you. Think about:

  • Programs: Make sure they have majors and programs you’re interested in.

  • Location: Do you want to be in a big city, a small town, or somewhere in between?

  • Size: Do you prefer a big university or a smaller college?

  • Campus Life: What’s the vibe on campus? Are there clubs and activities you’d enjoy?

  • Financial Aid: Check out the financial aid options and scholarships they offer.

3. Build Relationships with Teachers!

Get to know your teachers and school counselors well. You’ll need them to write recommendation letters, and it’s better if they really know you.

4. Make Yourself Stand Out!

College admissions see so many applications with the same extracurriculars: student council, Key Club, etc. There's nothing wrong with those clubs, but how do they make YOU stand out? For example, I love video editing. It might sound corny, but I’ve been doing it since I was 12. I have 20K followers on Instagram and even collaborated with a famous artist to help produce a music video with 7 million views!

5. Take Care of Your Mental Health!

The college application process is different for everyone, and what may have worked for me may not work for you. Also, college isn’t the end of the world, so make sure you’re taking care of your mental health while the season comes.

These are just a few things I’ve been doing to prepare for college application season. Remember, it’s all about showing colleges who you are and making the most of your opportunities. Good luck!