Stephens College Students Shine at State DECA Competition, Advance to International Stage
Students from Stephens College are celebrating a standout showing at the Missouri State Career Development Conference, where the College’s Collegiate DECA team earned top honors across multiple competitive categories.
Seven students received recognition for excellence in business-focused events, reflecting the strength of Stephens College’s hands-on, career-centered approach to learning.
Leading the team, Viveca Malendziak captured 1st Place in Entrepreneurial Operations, demonstrating exceptional innovation and strategic thinking. Malendziak is the Founder and CEO of Goated Lifestyle, a Milwaukee-based apparel brand she launched in 2022.
“Taking first place at the DECA state competition for entrepreneurship operations was not only an accomplishment for me this year, but a goal completed after I didn’t place last year,” Malendziak said. “Using last year’s loss as a lesson and motivation, I promised myself that I would place this year. Ensuring proper preparation, mixed with confidence built from last year’s experience is a reminder to stay resilient, even after a loss.”
In team and individual categories:
- Sofia Jones and Olivia Johnson earned 2nd Place in Marketing Communications
- Dofay Jiang received 2nd Place in Human Resource Management
Additional high-ranking finishes included:
- Karma Perry – Top 5 in Retail Management
- Karma Perry and Eliza Stevens – Top 10 in Event Planning
- Kennedy Gaskin and Dofay Jiang – Top 5 in Event Planning
- Kennedy Gaskin – Top 5 in Fashion Marketing
All seven students have qualified to represent Stephens College at the upcoming Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference this April in Louisville.
Their success underscores the College’s commitment to experiential learning that prepares students to compete — and succeed — in real-world business environments.
Stephens College will proudly cheer on these students as they take their talents to the international stage this spring.
Pictures provided by Dr. Scott Taylor, Stephens College Collegiate DECA Advisor
Pictured (left to right): Kennedy Gaskin, Viveca Malendziak, Dofay Jiang, Olivia Johnson, Eliza Stevens, Karma Perry
