VOLUNTEER

WITH TEXAS DECA

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER AT THE STATE CAREER DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

Volunteering with Texas DECA allows you to make a real difference in the preparation of emerging leaders and entrepreneurs. Judging competitive events gives you the opportunity to discover the detail and depth DECA members put into their projects. You’ll begin to see how DECA members are ready to make an impact in our world.

We have virtual and in-person judging opportunities. For more details, see the information below.

REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE 2026 STATE CAREER DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

THE JUDGING EXPERIENCE

As a competitive event judge, you’ll sit across the from students as they present their ideas and solutions to real-world business problems. Students have prepared all year and look forward to this moment as they work to earn a spot at the next level of competition. Students will utilize all of the presentation, professional development, and critical thinking skills they’ve learned over the year, as well as the knowledge they’ve gained in their career cluster to present truly innovative ideas.

  • DECA has 51 competitive events that students compete in. Our competitive events are split into role play events and prepared presentation events.

    In ROLE PLAY events, the judge interacts with the student(s) in a business scenario. In individual events, the students have 10 minutes to review the scenario, and in team events, they have 30 minutes to review the scenario. You will evaluate their solution to a problem presented in the scenario based on a provided rubric.

    In PREPARED PRESENTATION events, the judge listens to students present projects that they have been working on throughout the school year. These presentations range from researching operations in an existing business, presenting a growth plan for a business they already own, and many more topics. These prepared events also present an opportunity for virtual evaluations. Some of the events require the competitors to write a paper as well. Virtual judges are needed to review and evaluate the papers based on a provided rubric.

  • Click the link below to see some sample competitive event videos. If you'd like to follow along, you can download the sample scenario to the right of the video before watching it.

    https://www.deca.org/high-school-programs/competitive-events-sample-videos-hs/

  • Volunteers choose what type of event they'd like to judge - virtual scoring of written projects, in-person scoring of prepared presentations, or in-person scoring of role play events. In addition to this, you'll provide your comfort level in judging our different career clusters. With these two pieces of information, we place judges in events. Volunteers do not pick specific events to judge.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

  • For in-person judging, you can choose between Role Plays and Prepared Presentations.

    For the ROLE PLAY EVENTS, you will interact with the student(s) in a business scenario, and evaluate their solution to a problem.

    For PREPARED PRESENTATION EVENTS, students have spent the Fall semester preparing projects that they will be presenting to you. On the day of the conference, you will evaluate the oral presentation of their project.

    In-person judging will take place throughout the state during the month of January (see below for specific locations and dates)

    AND

    in Dallas, TX at the Hilton Anatole for our State Career Development Conference on Friday, February 20, 2026

  • Written projects will be evaluated virtually prior to the in-person conference.

    For VIRTUAL WRITTEN PROJECTS, you will evaluate the written portion of the prepared projects. Evaluation of written projects will take place virtually prior to the in-person conference.

    The window for written evaluations will be Tuesday, February 3rd to Sunday, February 8th.

  • Join one of our informational calls to get an overview of Texas DECA and what it's like to serve as a volunteer judge. These calls are not required, but provided for those who have never served as a volunteer judge or would like a refresher over what volunteers are judging. A full volunteer judge orientation will be sent out to all registered volunteers prior to the event.

    January 28, 2026 @ 3PM
    February 11, 2026 @ 3PM

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS TEXAS

DISTRICT CAREER DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCES
Support the students in your area! Join us as a volunteer judge at one of our 12 District Conferences across the state. The in-person part of each District Conference will take place in mid-January 2025. As the specific dates are released, they will be reflected below. If you’re unable to join in person, each conference will need a few virtual judges as well. Virtual judging will happen in late December or early January. We’d love to have you evaluate written events virtually if you can’t join in person! If you have any questions, let us know!

Click here to register for any of the conferences below

1 . 22 . 2026

MCALLEN, TX |

NEW BRAUNFELS, TX |

1 . 13 . 2026

ROSENBERG, TX |

1 . 15 . 2026

THE WOODLANDS, TX |

1 . 8 . 2026

ROUND ROCK, TX |

12 . 15 . 2025

PITTSBURG, TX |

1 . 9 . 2026

IRVING, TX |

1.12/13/14.2026

LUBBOCK, TX |

1 . 14 . 2026

SWEETWATER, TX |

1 . 14 . 2026

EL PASO, TX |

1 . 9 . 2026

STATE CAREER DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
The Texas DECA State Career Development Conference will host over 7,000 students and teachers this year! We’d love to have you join us and support our student competitors as a volunteer judge. We’ll need about 500 volunteers across the two shifts listed to have a successful event. See the details for the event below. If you have any questions, let us know. We look forward to have you join us!

Register to join us in Dallas here

DALLAS, TX | HILTON ANATOLE

February 20, 2026 | 7:30 AM - 12:30 PM, 12:00 PM - 5:30 PM, or All Day

Becoming an event sponsor for Texas DECA is more than just brand visibility, it’s a unique opportunity to directly shape the next generation of business leaders and innovators. By supporting our student-focused programs and conferences, you’ll play a pivotal role in inspiring emerging talent, fueling their growth, and connecting with a network of driven, career-ready individuals. Your partnership not only makes an immediate impact, but also invests in the future of industry, leadership, and entrepreneurship across Texas and beyond.

Provide 10 volunteer judges an event sponsor for FREE. Learn more about what events are available to sponsor by clicking on the link below. If you have questions, contact Nicole Willis - willis@texasdeca.org.

IS YOUR COMPANY INTERESTED IN SPONSORING A COMPETITIVE EVENT?

Learn more

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • – Individuals with experience in marketing, management, hospitality, finance, entrepreneurship, sales, human resources, travel and tourism, retail, and accounting

    – Must be 21+ years old

  • DECA has 50 competitive events that students compete in. Our competitive events are split into role play events and prepared presentation events.

    In ROLE PLAY events, the judge interacts with the student(s) in a business scenario. In individual events, the students have 10 minutes to review the scenario, and in team events, they have 30 minutes to review the scenario. You will evaluate their solution to a problem presented in the scenario based on a provided rubric.

    In PREPARED PRESENTATION events, the judge listens to students present projects that they have been working on throughout the school year. These presentations range from researching operations in an existing business, presenting a growth plan for a business they already own, and many more topics. These prepared events also present an opportunity for virtual evaluations. Some of the events require the competitors to write a paper as well. Virtual judges are needed to review and evaluate the papers based on a provided rubric.

  • Click the link below to see some sample competitive event videos. If you'd like to follow along, you can download the sample scenario to the right of the video before watching it.

    https://www.deca.org/high-school-programs/competitive-events-sample-videos-hs/

  • Yes! We'd love to have your friends and colleagues join you. If your company is interested in bringing at least 10 people, contact Nicole Willis about your options for sponsoring an event!

  • You will not be assigned your specific event until you arrive on site. You be assigned to either prepared presentations or role plays and you can review sample events for type of event that you're assigned to. We keep the event scenarios confidential until the day of the competition.

  • Yes, Texas DECA will provide validated parking at the conference venue. More information on where to park and how to get your parking validated will be communicated the week of the event.

  • No prior experience is necessary. We will provide dates and times for informational zoom calls prior to the event and you will receive video orientations prior to the event.

  • No. We ask that judges commit to their entire time frame to ensure fairness to all competitors.

    When registering, you will select the volunteer shift that works best with your schedule. Shifts are 7:30 AM - 12:30 PM, 12:00 PM - 5:30 PM, or all day. You can switch the shift at any time prior to the day of the event. If you need to switch shifts, email Nicole Willis.

  • Competitors will be dressed in business professional attire. We ask that you wear at least business casual but you are welcome to wear business professional as well if you wish.

  • Arrival instructions will be sent to volunteers prior to the event.

    Morning shift volunteers should arrive between 7:00 AM and 7:30 AM. Afternoon shift volunteers should arrive between 12:00 PM and 12:30 PM.

  • Yes, all judges will receive a comprehensive orientation and training prior to interacting with competitors. A video orientation/training will be sent out prior to arriving on-site and a review of those materials will be given on-site prior to leaving the judge reception.