For the first time, 18 Bend High School students and one senior from Summit High School qualified at the state DECA competition for the national tournament — a record for both schools.

This was only Summit’s second year at the state business competition.

The national competition, scheduled for April 26 in Atlanta, draws about 10,000 people and offers cash awards to students across the U.S. and even overseas.

DECA stands for Distributive Education Clubs of America, according to its Web site. Oregon DECA is a leadership program specifically designed for high school students interested in marketing, management and entrepreneurship. Internationally, there are 185,000 students involved in the program, and Bend High has 92 DECA students.

For the last 12 years, Bend High has typically sent 10 students to nationals, business teacher Kristen Torkelson said. Of the 18 students who qualified this year, two of them won in two separate categories. No other Central Oregon students attended the state competition.

“We did really well,” Torkelson said. “This was our best year ever.”

Of Bend High’s 92 DECA students, 42 attended the Oregon DECA competition in Portland that drew more than 900 students from across the state, Torkelson said.

They competed in 14 categories ranging from advertising campaigns to market research.

One of the top competitors was Ashley Evert, a 16-year-old junior. She won first place in hospitality team management, an event where Ashley had to develop a hotel security plan. She also won in the advertising campaign category by renaming the Hampton Inn of Bend the Alpenglow Inn and designing an advertising campaign through TV, radio, the Internet and other media.

Ashley said she doesn’t know what exactly she wants to do after high school, but likes hotels.

“I have no idea about colleges, but I’m looking to go into the hotel industry,” Ashley said.

“I’ve just kind of grown up around it with my parents. I like the possibilities. It’s worldwide, and I love to travel.”

Mallory McCool, 17, a junior, also got first place in hospitality team management as Ashley’s partner. In addition, Mallory won in business and financial marketing research. Mallory created a marketing research manual about The Bulletin that showed how it could become more environmentally friendly.

“My first priority was to add solar paneling,” she said.

Jack Duell, 17, a senior at Summit, also qualified for nationals out of 12 other Summit students, marketing teacher Jerry Hackenbruck said.

“He’s just real good, highly responsible and has shown a lot of initiative,” Hackenbruck added.

Jack competed in the quick serve restaurant management category, an event that focuses on fast-food-style joints. Jack explained how he would deal with a bagel shop losing popularity because of a larger competitor.

He designed a new strategy by adding more high-quality ingredients, like bagels with salmon and hummus.

“I really stressed quality over price,” Jack said.

He plans to attend the University of Oregon this fall and study sports marketing, which DECA has helped prepare him for.

“It’s a great program,” Jack said. “It gives you that real world experience.”

The following Central Oregon students recently qualified for the national DECA competition in Atlanta:

Summit High School

Third place quick serve restaurant management: senior Jack Duell

Bend High School

First place hospitality team management: juniors Mallory McCool and Ashley Evert

First place business and financial marketing research: Mallory McCool

First place advertising campaign: Ashley Evert

First place community service project: senior Lauren Simpson

First place retail marketing research: seniors Brian Laird and Matt Lorenz

First place entrepreneurship written: senior Laura Fenimore

First place entrepreneurship independent: senior Kymala Lovisone

First place fashion promotion plan: senior Jordyn Beebe

Second place fashion promotion plan: seniors Curtis Baney and Andrew Vijarro

Second place entrepreneurship written: seniors Kari Lyche and Lauren Manley

Second place general marketing research: senior Megan French

Second place retail merchandise series: senior Chris Leggat

Third place sports and entertainment series: junior Natalee Dyer

Third place fashion promotion plan: junior TiAnna Hatfield

Third place general marketing research: senior Clare Knievel

Third place Internet marketing business plan: senior Tiffani Monnier