Cleary University is ecstatic to announce that several students earned top awards at the 2025 International Career Development Conference for Collegiate DECA held in San Francisco, Calif. Cleary competed against hundreds of students from across the world in a variety of business-related categories that test their problem-solving skills, leadership qualities, presentation techniques and persuasive communication attributes.
International champions from Cleary include:
- Macie Mullins (Brooklyn, MI) and Olivia Williams (Nashville, MI): 1st place in Business-to-Business Marketing (29 teams competed in this category)
- Matthew Radjewski (Macomb): top 10 finalist (8th place) in Advertising Campaign (37 entered this category)
- Six Cleary students advanced to the final round of competition:
- Jacob Haley from Flint and Hsiang “Shaelyn” Kao from Douliu, Yunlin, Taiwan (Entrepreneurship: Starting a Business) – they captured 9th place competing against 47 other teams
- Carson MacMillan from Howell (Hotel and Lodging) – he earned 9th place competing against 46 other students
- Macie Mullins, Matt Radjewski and Olivia Williams
Fifty percent of Cleary’s DECA presenters advanced to the final round, and 50 percent brought home awards, reports Justine Defever, associate professor at Cleary and DECA co-advisor. “This is a distinction few schools can claim. It truly demonstrates the unique talents of our students.
“In fact, the judges weren’t just impressed by our students’ business acumen; they were inspired by their confidence and embodiment of The Cleary Mind.™”
“This achievement of our DECA students is a true testament to their talent, preparation and drive,” announces Alan Drimmer, PhD, Cleary president. “What an exceptional performance! We couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments.”
This year was one of the largest international competitions for Collegiate DECA in many years, reports Defever. Michigan was one of the largest delegations at the DECA conference with 113 competitors. Approximately 1,000 students attended the conference representing 18 states and several countries.
A total of 16 Cleary University DECA students first competed in the state competition held in Bay City in February in hopes of qualifying for the international competition, and 12 earned a spot.
“We are so proud of our Cleary DECA students. They are an impressive representation of our university,” reports Kelly Genei, dean of Undergraduate Studies and co-advisor of DECA.
“Our students approached their events with confidence, poise and knowledge, demonstrating their strengths in business principles, which thoroughly impressed the judges,” Genei reports.
DECA prepares college and high school emerging leaders and entrepreneurs throughout the world for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. Its collegiate competitive events program allows students to test their experience, skills and knowledge while representing their university. They compete for top international honors in one of 25 different categories. Business and industrial leaders serve as judges for the competition.
Cleary established its DECA program five years ago. “We are excited to see the program growing so rapidly and with such great achievements in a short time,” reports Genei, who started the program at Cleary. “The DECA competitive categories fit perfectly with the concentrations offered at Cleary, and the focus on problem solving, communication and leadership skills is exactly what we try to develop with the Cleary Mind.™”
The Cleary Mind™ is comprised of these eight key elements: critical thinking, problem solving, creative thinking, communications, persuasion, entrepreneurship, leadership and ethics.
Cleary University offers a $4,000 DECA scholarship to a new undergraduate student who enrolls full-time at Cleary. The student must meet the following criteria: GPA of 2.5, participates in a high school DECA program, submits a letter of recommendation from a student advisor, will participate in DECA for four years at Cleary, and must be a full-time student at Cleary and maintain a 2.5 GPA. In addition to the $4,000 ($1,000 a year) scholarship, Cleary also offers a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500 a year) annually to one student who has met the same criteria as the $4,000 scholarship and has held a DECA state officer position or has advanced to a national or international competition.
Cleary also offers a DECA student at the university an opportunity to receive a $20,000 scholarship ($5,000 a year) by meeting all of the above listed criteria for the $4,000 scholarship and the $10,000 scholarship and has held a national officer position or placed first at a national or international DECA competition.
To learn more about DECA, send an email to jdefever@cleary.edu. For information on DECA scholarship opportunities, email admissions@cleary.edu.
Photo caption
Back row (from left): Carson MacMillan, Matthew Radjewski, Jacob Haley, Chase Palmer, Emma Nobels, Macie Mullins, Sarah Wessels, and Ryan Davis. Front row (from left): Morgan Whitcomb, Hsiang “Shaelyn” Kao, Ambre Canado and Olivia Williams
