There are two activities here at Buffalo High School that are very similar; BPA and DECA.  Often times people get confused about the differences between the two because both are related to business. It’s true that the two groups work often work together, but they are still separate.

DECA is not an acronym for anything, just a word defined as “An Association of Marketing Students”. Before 1990, it stood for the Distributive Education Clubs of America. But,  eventually it was decided that the name was too limiting for what DECA was becoming. DECA began in 1965 and focuses mainly on marketing and presenting products- it is a competitive business marketing organization. DECA used to be an organization that covered all aspects of business, but it became too large. They then split off into two; BPA and DECA. Both of these are still run by the same non-profit organization.

DECA is instructed by Kremmers, and has 25 to 30 members. DECA here at BHS doesn’t have meetings very often, but when they do, it’s during AAA. Instead, they have quick check-ins with Kremmers just to let the instructor know where they’re at. The group usually competes with marketing a certain idea to a specific age group, it is not always pitching a product. They can also write business plans. Some schools even have DECA as a class students can take- their presentations and work ethic are graded.

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“I joined DECA because it was a great looking organization that was very flexible,” says Junior Michael Deisting, a first year member of DECA. “It’s a very independent activity, you can chose your own work schedule. There’s also none of those flashy power-points like in BPA.”

BPA stands for Business Professionals of America and is instructed by Mrs. Diekman and Mrs. Karna (Burrell). BPA has been around since 30 years ago, when it was known as  OEA (Office Education Association).

The group meets at least once a month, more depending on what time of year it is. The main purpose of this group is to prepare the members for a business career and give them an opportunity to experience real business situations. This year BPA’s member count has increased from 18 to 26, making it one of the larger seasons.

“I joined BPA because I want to get a business degree and go into that field when I’m older,” explains Junior Jessica Demueles. “This is my second year being involved.”

So, there you have it folks. Both DECA and BPA involve business, but if you are looking for a more specific business branch, hopefully one of these activities meets your criteria. These groups are helping teenagers prepare for jobs in the future, each in different yet helpful ways. They both emphasize creativity, speaking skills, and independent work.

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