AC/GC Students Headed to DECA ICDC Competition

Two teams from the Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center DECA chapter advance to the international business competition in Atlanta.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:30pm

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A group of students from the Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center Distributed Education Clubs of America (DECA) chapter are preparing to travel to Atlanta, Georgia, for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) later this month. The students qualified for the international competition after strong performances at the State Career Development Conference, with two teams advancing to ICDC.

Why it matters

DECA is a national organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Advancing to the international competition is a significant achievement for the small-town AC/GC DECA chapter, showcasing the skills and dedication of its student members.

The details

The AC/GC DECA chapter is sending four students to the ICDC competition in Atlanta. Junior Preston Kent and Senior Irelyn Wirt will compete in the Team Decision Making, Entrepreneurship event, while Seniors Angel Martinez and Max Trujillo-Garcia will take part in the Team Decision Making, Business Law and Ethics competition. The 2026 ICDC will take place from April 25-28 at the Georgia World Congress Center, with students from around the world, including countries like Vietnam, Russia, and China, participating.

  • The State Career Development Conference took place earlier this year.
  • The 2026 ICDC competition will be held from April 25-28 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The players

Preston Kent

A junior at AC/GC High School and member of the DECA chapter.

Irelyn Wirt

A senior at AC/GC High School and member of the DECA chapter.

Angel Martinez

A senior at AC/GC High School and member of the DECA chapter.

Max Trujillo-Garcia

A senior at AC/GC High School and member of the DECA chapter.

Jen Betterton

The sponsor of the AC/GC DECA chapter.

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What they’re saying

“I think DECA prepares you for the real world and gives me skills that I can apply to later phases of my life.”

— Irelyn Wirt, Senior, AC/GC High School

“I just like the idea of figuring out what is right or wrong in a business situation, like ethical or not ethical, and it just interested me.”

— Max Trujillo-Garcia, Senior, AC/GC High School

What’s next

The AC/GC DECA students will travel to Atlanta, Georgia, to compete in the 2026 ICDC competition from April 25-28.

The takeaway

The success of the AC/GC DECA chapter in advancing to the international competition demonstrates the strong business and leadership skills of its student members, and the value of programs like DECA in preparing young people for future careers.