Congratulations go out to GCHS DECA on an outstanding performance at State!
Piper Mangan and Daniel Ratley assisted with planning and execution of the conference. Piper has served as KY DECA VP of Communications this past school year and was elected to serve as the 2026-27 KY DECA VP of Membership. Daniel Ratley was also part of the Executive Council as the President of Region 2 DECA.
In total, 20 GCHS competitors placed in the Top 5 of their events. First-place finishes included Brack Allen and Connor Lee, Business Law and Ethics Team Decision Making; Stella Rogers and Kelsie Smiley, Marketing Management Team Decision Making; Maggie Basham, Integrated Marketing Campaign Service; and Piper Mangan, Quick Serve Restaurant Management.
Second place went to Maggie Shepherd, Apparel and Accessories Marketing; Daniel Ratley, Community Awareness Project; and Layla Lacefield and Jill Pierce, Sales Project.
Addie Sanders, Professional Selling; and Carter Bernard and Miles Mudd, Sports and Entertainment Team Decision Making, placed third. Isabella Ford and Jaida Plant, Community Giving Project; Amora Carlos and Maryn Evans, Integrated Marketing Campaign Product; Samuel Kessinger, Principles of Business Management and Administration; and Zach Pierce, Restaurant and Food Service Management, took fourth; Etta Jo Allen, Principles of Hospitality and Tourism, placed fifth; and Karson Powell participated in the Sports and Entertainment Series Event
The Diamond in the Rough award is given to members who have gone above and beyond in their local chapter. GCHS recipients were Brack Allen, Layla Lacefield, Connor Lee, and Addie Sanders.
DECA sponsors/coaches are Brittany Gary and Sherri Minton.