DECA's Corporate Partner Projects, 2013-2014

DECA and several corporate partners will once again collaborate to offer DECA members opportunities to demonstrate the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom through innovative challenges during the 2013-2014 school year. Each challenge will have a unique focus and a specific set of required tasks. One common element is the requirement that presentations will be made via YouTube videos. Official guidelines and additional information will be posted by August.

The three opportunities will be available.

DeVry Innovation and Entrepreneurship Challenge

Participants in the DeVry Innovation and Entrepreneurship Challenge will present ideas to launch in­novative business concepts which enhance the lives of North American con­sumers and must be related to one of the following themes: technology, environmental sustainability, personal health, or tourism.

Finish Line Challenge

Participants in the Finish Line Challenge will assist Finish Line in analyzing its omni-channel strategy (providing a consistent and premium customer experience through the many ways in which the customer shops). This includes researching the customer experience through mobile technology, the Internet, social media, offline media, and in-store.

FIDM Challenge

Participants in the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) Challenge will translate a seasonal fashion trend into a “look” depicting the researched fashion forecast. First, participants will forecast a fashion trend for Back to School 2014. Second, participants will put together an outfit that students would wear to school depicting this up and coming trend. Third, participants must explain why, based on their research, they believe in their trend forecast.