On Tuesday, Coppell High School DECA members waited in anticipation for the final results of the District 11 Career Development Conference at the Irving Convention Center in Las Colinas, hoping to see their hard work shine through.
Among the 315 Coppell DECA students who competed, 190 qualified for state.
Coppell competed against several districts including the counties of Dallas, Ellis, Kaufman, and Rockwall.
State qualifiers will compete at Hilton Anatole in Dallas on March 6-8 against more than 7,000 students across the state.
“This year was tougher than those in the past,” senior Coppell DECA president Nayva Singh said. “The district competitors nearly doubled this year, from 1,100 to 2,100, and on top of that we also had fewer individuals advancing to the state level.”
This increase made the events significantly more competitive, sparking students to enhance their preparation for success.
“We knew it would be more competitive with the counties that were added to District 11 DECA,” Coppell High School DECA advisor Richard Chamberlain said. “We did have a few people we expected to advance who did not advance, and that’s always sad when you have somebody who has achieved at the highest level, not be able to repeat that success.”
(Manasa Borra)
Junior Driti Gajjela was elected as the DECA District 11 president for the 2025-26 school year, carrying on the legacy of CHS taking the title for the fourth consecutive year.
“Winning feels really rewarding after all the work that went into the process,” Gajjela said. “I learned to focus on myself and my campaign which helped me maintain my peace and also resulted in a good performance yesterday.”
Gajjela has bright plans for DECA, hoping to enhance the program with new additions to accentuate students’ business skills and strength.
“As president, I would like to maintain the current system the district has while implementing inspirational guest speaker series, workshops, courses to nurture core skills, and an internal mentorship program,” Gajjela said. “I’m looking forward to working with a new team of people to serve District 11 and to carry on the legacy of Coppell.”
DECA Consulting is a new program offering members the opportunity to meet with officers and previous ICDC qualifiers to answer questions and gain insight into their event. The program also provides resources, such as DECA Plus connecting with other officers and past qualifiers , and event specific preparation.
CHS DECA members are steadfast in their dedication, intent on improving their skills and passion for business.
“It’s not easy to stand out in a room of hundreds and thousands of other competitors, but members have worked hard to get the chance to walk across the stage and receive their medal,” Singh said. “I’ve seen firsthand the effort and passion many students at Coppell have for DECA and business as a whole, and I think it’s great that we’ve built a culture of support and success in our chapter.”
Competitors gained experience in the business field, developing their aptitude in communication and knowledge.
”I enjoy being able to think on my feet and present my ideas to the judge,” senior executive vice president of marketing Hansini Routhu said. “My favorite part of competing is getting to step into the position of a business professional and being able to gain hands-on experience which has helped me push out of my comfort zone and be more confident.”
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