ABOUT TEXAS DECA
AWARDS + RECOGNITIONS
About Texas DECA | Board of Directors | Texas DECA Staff
TEXAS DECA
SERVICE RECOGNITIONS
The Board of Directors nominates and selects the individuals for the following awards each fall. They are recognized at the Texas DECA State Career Development Conference. To nominate an advisor, industry leader, or CTE administrator, please contact your local District Director.
Submit your nominations at the link below. Nominations are due October 1st, 2026.
TEXAS DECA
CHAPTER RECOGNITIONS
Chapters across Texas are recognized each year for their outstanding achievement, leadership, and impact. Awards include Chapter of the Year, Lone Star Legend Chapters, Chapter Campaigns, and Century, Diamond, and EPIC Chapter Awards. These recognitions highlight chapters that go the extra in membership, service, and program excellence. All honored chapters will be celebrated at the Texas DECA State Career Development Conference.
TEXAS DECA
STUDENT RECOGNITIONS
Texas DECA Scholarship Recipients are exemplary student leaders who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, DECA involvement, leadership potential, and commitment to their future career goals—earning prestigious scholarships to support their education and growth.
TEXAS DECA SERVICE RECOGNITIONS
The Board of Directors nominates and selects the individuals for the following awards each fall. They are recognized at the Texas DECA State Career Development Conference. To nominate an advisor, industry leader, or CTE administrator, please contact your local District Director.
Submit your nominations at the link below. Nominations are due October 1st, 2026.
The Honorary Life Recognition is Texas DECA’s highest honor and is reserved for individuals who make a lasting impact on a statewide level for more than ten years.
HONORARY LIFE
2022 | Thomas Stewart Burns, Smithville High School
2025 | Leo Saenz, McAllen ISD
Texas DECA recognizes one advisor each year who goes above and beyond in their support of business/marketing education and DECA at their local campus.
ADVISOR OF THE YEAR
2025-2026 | Michelle Moore, Ronald Reagan High School
2024-2025 | Craig Drenowatz, Wakeland High School
2023-2024 | Arminda (Mindy) Quiroz, Los Fresnos High School
2022-2023 | Jill Oates, Lake Travis High School
2021-2022 | Julie Lowe, The Woodlands College Park
2020-2021 | Lisa Greco, Birdville Center of Technology and Advanced Learning
2019-2020 | Charlotte Heinze, Copperas Cove High School
2018-2019 | Greg Eppes, Clements High School
2017-2018 | Vanessa Dry, Naaman Forest High School
The Texas DECA Board of Directors recognizes up to 6 individuals each year who have made a lasting impact on Texas DECA. These industry leaders, chapter advisors, and CTE administrators have provided valuable insight and efforts for more than 5 years each.
OUTSTANDING SERVICE
2025-2026 | Diane Baray (Montwood High School), Shawn Barry (Texas DECA Staff), Beth Dumaoal (AmTech Career Academy), Sharon Fleischauer (Ridge Point HS), Jamie Heinold (Ohana Original Crafts), Eric Oliver (Round Rock HS)
2024-2025 | Lee Geffert (Richardson HS). Cullen Madden (Texas DECA Conference Staff), Sean Meyers (Sean Meyers Insurance Services), Sara Parriott (Typhoon Texas), Kristin Petrunin (Lewisville ISD), Rebecca Smith (Mabank HS)
2023-2024 | Julieanne Ash (Klein Oak HS), Tom Barry (United Rentals), Gloria Evans (Round Rock ISD), Chelsea Knapp (Franklin HS), Kenneth Lucero (Americas HS), Nicole Willis (Texas DECA)
2022-2023 | Kimberly Adams (Dallas ISD), Dori Brown (Dr. Gene Burton College & Career Academy), Pamela Hamilton (Texas HS), Diana Salazar (Judson HS), Rick Stepp (John Foster Dulles HS)
2021-2022 | Cathy Slagle (Eaton HS), Lisa Gibbs (Ballinger HS), Kimberly Stapleton (Cedar Park HS), Leslie Weil (Pieper HS), Kara Buster (Friendswood HS), Victor Barrera (Port Isabel HS)
2020-2021 | Billie Ruth Hankins (Linden-Kildare HS), Christopher Fleming (Lakeview Centennial HS), Kendra Day (Marcus HS), Michelle Moore (Ronald Reagan HS), Patricia Holloway (Klein HS), Sherri Walker (Graham HS)
2019-2020 | Judy Busocker (Men’s Wearhouse), Laura Lauinger (Samuel Clemens HS), Sheila Lozano (Veterans Memorial HS), Katie Koshkin (JJ Pearce HS), Larry Senegal (George Bush HS), Sandra Willis (Hughes Springs HS)
2018-2019 | Patricia Cannon (Plano Senior HS), Julie Lowe (The Woodlands College Park HS), Alice McKinney (Bellaire HS), Gabriela Molina (Del Valle HS), Barbara Taylor (Birdville ISD), Jennifer Urbanek (Lake View HS)
2017-2018 | Dr. Linda Anderson (Birdville ISD), Mary Chandler (University of North Texas), Donna Crow (Pampa HS), Kelly Gourley (The Woodlands HS), Eldridge Ravey (Port-Neches Groves HS), Anita Vera (Bishop HS)
The Texas DECA Board of Directors recognizes up to 6 chapter advisors that have shown high levels of engagement and enthusiasm in their first three years of serving as an advisor for Texas DECA.
OUTSTANDING NEW ADVISOR
2025-2026 | Megan Gordon (The MILE), Erika Hodo (Louis Brandeis HS), Rebecca Hunter (Joshua HS), Kristi Smoot (Wylie East HS), Desiree Wells (Westwood HS), Carol Zeitz (Elkins HS)
2024-2025 | Andres Barragan (Valley View HS), Samuel Castaneda (Lubbock-Cooper Liberty HS), Keisha Clarke (The Woodlands HS), Shannon Gillespie (Snyder HS), Sandy Romo (Pebble Hills HS), Tommy Thompson (Centennial HS)
2023-2024 | Kaleigh Bowhay (Cristoval HS), Clayton Cox (Macarthur HS - Irving), Stephanie D’Angelo (Cy-Fair HS), Georgina Garza (Edinburg North HS), Jessica Rickey (Angleton HS), Erin Saenz (Macarthur HS - San Antonio)
2022-2023 | Angela Allen (Trent ISD), Beth Dumaoal (Amtech Academy), Jocelyn Etters (Stephenville HS), Ada Garcia (Vanguard Academy), Jamie Greco (Plano Senior HS), April Hall (Montwood HS)
2021-2022 | Todd Chiles (Independence HS), Alexis Longmire (Rouse HS), Kaley Brejcha (Rock Hill HS), Kim Porter (Coppell Ninth Grade Center), Nicholas Benson (Vandegrift HS), Kimberly Goodman (Carroll HS)
2020-2021 | Erica DuRant (Clear Brook HS), Crystal Pounds (Byron P Steele II HS), Katrina McGee (Berkner HS), Lindsay Ward (San Angelo Central HS), Shelby Farris (Wylie HS), Susan Khoobiar (Tomball Memorial HS)
2019-2020 | Charlotte Carr (Vista Ridge HS), Leslie Griffin (Bryan Griffin), Marcie Kuhl (Klein Cain HS), Marcia Sonora (El Dorado HS)
2018-2019 | Colleen Lockwood (Boswell HS), Kendra Meyers (The Woodlands HS), Kristin Petrunin (New Tech High @ Coppell), Libia Quintero (Vanguard Academy - Rembrandt), Mindy Quiroz (Los Fresnos United HS)
TEXAS DECA CHAPTER RECOGNITIONS
Chapters across Texas are recognized each year for their outstanding achievement, leadership, and impact. Awards include Chapter of the Year, Lone Star Legend Chapters, Chapter Campaigns, and Century, Diamond, and EPIC Chapter Awards. These recognitions highlight chapters that go the extra in membership, service, and program excellence. All honored chapters will be celebrated at the Texas DECA State Career Development Conference.
CHAPTER OF THE YEAR
The Texas DECA Chapter of the Year award honors an outstanding chapter that demonstrates excellence in leadership, membership, community involvement, and overall program success.
2025-2026 | Emerson High School
2024-2025 | Glenda Dawson High School
2023-2024 | Reedy High School
2022-2023 | Ben Barber Innovation Academy
2021-2022 | Mexia High School
The Texas DECA Chapter of the Year award honors an outstanding chapter that demonstrates excellence in leadership, membership, community involvement, and overall program success in its first 3 years as a chapter.
NEW CHAPTER OF THE YEAR
2025-2026 | iUniversity Prep
2024-2025 | Kingwood High School
Chapters being recognized as Lone Star Legends have completed activities covering all of DECA’s Guiding Principles, showing they are preparing their students to be Academically Prepared, Community Oriented, Professionally Responsible, and Experienced Leaders.
LONE STAR LEGEND
2025-2026 | Allen HS, Ballinger HS, Cedar Ridge HS, Colleyville Heritage HS, Eaton HS, Emerson HS, Grand Oaks HS, Kingwood HS, Lake Travis HS, Lebanon Trail HS, Ronald Reagan HS, San Angelo Central HS
2025-2026 CENTURY, DIAMOND, EPIC CHAPTERS
Texas DECA Century, Diamond, and EPIC Chapters are recognized for achieving exceptional membership milestones, with Century Chapters reaching 100+ members, Diamond Chapters reaching 200+ members, and EPIC Chapters reaching 300+ members during the membership year.
EPIC CHAPTERS
Carroll High School
Clements High School
Coppell High School
Elkins High School
Independence High School
Kingwood High School
Lake Travis High School
300+ Members
McNeil High School
Reedy High School
Richardson High School
Round Rock High School
The Woodlands High School
Wakeland High School
Westwood High School
Ben Barber Innovation Academy
Byron P. Steele, II High School
Centennial High School
Colleyville Heritage High School
Duncanville High School
Frisco Memorial High School
Glenda Dawson High School
Grand Oaks High School
Hebron High School
Lebanon Trail High School
Liberty High School
DIAMOND CHAPTERS
200-299 Members
Montwood High School
Panther Creek High School
Rock Hill High School
Ronald Reagan High School
Rouse High School
Stephen F. Austin High School
The Woodlands College Park HS
Travis HS
Uplift North Hills Prep
Vista Ridge High School
Allen High School
Argyle High School
Brewer High School
Cedar Park High School
Cedar Ridge High School
Christoval High School
Claudia Taylor Johnson High School
Conroe High School
Coppell High School
Coppell HS Ninth Grade Center
Dripping Springs High School
Eaton High School
Emerson High School
Flower Mound High School
Fossil Ridge High School
Foster High School
Frankin High School
Granbury High School
Grapevine High School
Heritage High School
JJ Pearce
John Dubiski Career High School
John Foster Dulles High School
CENTURY CHAPTERS
100-199 Members
Keller High School
Lakeview Centennial High School
Legacy Ranch High School
Little Elm High School
Marcus High School
McAllen Memorial High School
Prosper High School
Richland High School - Prosper
Sachse High School
Samuel Clemens High School
San Angelo Central High School
Sandra Day O’connor High School
Shadow Creek High School
Stephenville High School
Strake Jesuit
Sweetwater High School
Timber Creek High School
Vandegrift High School
Walnut Grove High School
Westlake High School
Wylie High School
TEXAS DECA STUDENT RECOGNITIONS
Mara Greenberg Memorial Scholarship
Cameron G., Clear Brook HS
Selina L., Clements HS
Texas DECA Scholarship Recipients are exemplary student leaders who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, DECA involvement, leadership potential, and commitment to their future career goals—earning prestigious scholarships to support their education and growth.
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
2026
Kiley Salser, Pine Tree HS
Carol A Francis Scholar
Jacob Roy, Elkins HS
Hitesh Mallula, Glenda Dawson HS
Mara Greenberg Memorial Scholarship
Sitara Arakere, The Woodlands HS
Carter Brown, Dr. Gene Burton College & Career Academy
Kirah Geffert, Richardson HS
Luke Hernandez, Franklin HS
Mariyam Khazi, Round Rock HS
Texas DECA Scholar
Hayden Lee, Wakeland HS
Nikhil Sivanthi, Reedy HS
Ishan Wakade, Coppell HS
Texas DECA Leadership Scholarship
Laika Patel, Lake Travis HS
Josephine Sun, Westwood HS
Texas DECA Service Scholarship
2024
Mara Greenberg Memorial Scholarship
Trisha B., Clements HS
Riya G., Elkins HS
Ava S., Christoval HS
Carol A Francis Scholar
Matthey F., Kingwood HS
Cameron H., Keller HS
Tori Martins M., Hill Country Christian Academy
Mara R., Claudia Taylor Johnson HS
Brooke W., Richardson HS
Texas DECA Scholar
Melat B., Richardson HS
Sarah S., Wakeland HS
Texas DECA Leadership Scholarship
Shobhit A., Reedy HS
Macy L., Centennial HS
Roberta T., Los Fresnos HS
Texas DECA Service Scholarship
2025
Addison F., Keller HS
Carol A Francis Scholar
Addison B., Hughes Springs HS
Canon G., San Angelo Central HS
Rachel M., Pine Tree HS
Navya S., Coppell HS
Sienna Z., Franklin HS
Texas DECA Scholar
Texas DECA Leadership Scholarship
Yashitha C., Coppell HS
Pranav S., Vista Rigde HS
JP J., Glenda Dawson HS
Shivani K., Westwood HS
Mia W., The Woodlands College Park HS
Texas DECA Service Scholarship
Sandra Shankle Memorial Scholarship
Hannah Varkey, Ridge Point HS