RUN FOR STATE OFFICE

Run for State President

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN RUNNING FOR STATE PRESIDENT!

At Washington DECA, we love to see members who want to take their DECA experience and service to “the next level,” and running for State President is one of the best ways to do just that. Should you be elected, you will find yourself making new, life-long friends; meeting countless DECA members near and far; taking on new challenges; and growing – not only your skills and your experience, but also your network. Truly, it will be an experience that will change your life.

CONTACT YOUR STATE PRESIDENT

STATE PRESIDENT APPLICATION DUE:

January 15, 2025 (5:00 p.m.)

Questions?

If at any time you have questions before or during the election process, please email our State Officer Coach, Nicole Cowan, at nicole@wadeca.org.

APPLICATION PROCESS

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STEP 1: CANDIDATE GUIDE

To get started, download the candidate guide. This candidate guide includes the information you need to proceed with your application and campaign. It’s never too early to start preparing!

Note: Only one candidate from a chapter may run for the State President position. It is required that each chapter select their best candidate to run for State President.

Available August 1

STEP 2: INTENT TO APPLY

This form is intended to capture a picture of likely candidates for Washington DECA state office. This form should reflect a serious intent to run for office, but it does not:

  • Obligate the member to run for office
  • Ensure the acceptance of a potential candidate (qualified candidates will be notified after receipt and review of their application)

Completing the Intent to Apply form will ensure that you:

  • Are included on the list of applicants to be scheduled for a test and interview
  • Obtain any necessary updates regarding the application.
  • Receive all communications and updates regarding the candidacy process from the State Officer Leadership Coach.

Available August 1

STEP 3: COMPLETE ONLINE CANDIDATE APPLICATION

Please gather all of your application data before you begin entering your information into the online application form.

Available August 1

STEP 4: CANDIDATE EXAM

The Candidate Exam has 50 objective questions (multiple choice, true/false, matching) covering general DECA knowledge, the Code of Conduct, and the Washington DECA organization. To prepare for the exam, download the Candidate Exam Study Guide. You are responsible for securing your own proctor to administer your online test and providing their information in your candidate application. Information regarding access to the test will be sent to your local chapter advisor and your proctor should coordinate with your advisor to obtain this information.

Failure to complete the test may result in immediate disqualification.

The test makes up 25% of a president candidate’s overall score. The test is 50 questions long and is worth one point each. Test scores will be divided by 2 in order to be properly weighted at 25% of the candidate’s total score. For example, a test score of 40/50 will be recorded on the cover sheet as 20/25. Odd numbers divided by 2 are to be recorded to the tenth’s place (e.g. 20.5)

No notes may be used during the exam.

Candidate Exam Study Guide

STEP 5: APPROVED CANDIDATE NOTIFICATION

After review of application and test scores, qualified candidates for State President will be announced. If there are 5 or more applicants for State President candidacy, the top 4 scoring applicants will be approved for campaign and election. The scoring is calculated by finding the average between the test score and application score.

All applicants for State President candidacy and their advisors will be notified by Washington DECA whether they have qualified for the next stages in the process: Campaign, Interview and Election.

STEP 6: VIRTUAL CANDIDATE Q&A SESSION

If selected for campaign, interview and election, the only time in which candidates may publicly appear and declare their run for State President is during the Washington DECA State President Virtual Voting Delegate Question + Answer Sessions. The session date will be Tuesday, February 18, 2025, time TBA. Candidates must attend.

During the virtual session, voting delegates will be introduced to the State President candidates and view the campaign handouts provided by candidates.

Candidates will engage with voting delegates in a group panel/townhall format during this session. This session will be facilitated by the current State Officer Team and the voting delegates will have a chance to ask questions to ALL candidates. During this session, Voting Delegates will also be briefed on the voting process.

STEP 7: STATE CAREER DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

The following campaign activities are held at the State Career Development Conference:

  • Candidate Interview
  • Candidate Poster Display and Networking with Members
  • Candidate Speeches
  • Candidate Feature on WA DECA Website + WA DECA Social Media

Questions?
Please contact: Nicole Cowan, State Officer Coach
nicole@wadeca.org

SCDC Information

STEP 8: STATE PRESIDENT ELECTED!

The State President is determined based on combined scores from the application, exam, interview, and voting results.

The newly elected State President will be announced at the Closing Awards Session at the State Career Development Conference. Your State President Term of Office will begin at the conlusion of SCDC.