Grayson County High School’s DECA chapter posted outstanding results, including 20 students who finished in the top five in their respective events, at statewide competition.
Of the 20 students who finished in the top five, six won their individual disciplines:
- Brack Allen and Connor Lee in Business Law and Ethics Team Decision Making
- Stella Rogers and Kelsie Smiley in Marketing Management Team Decision Making
- Maggie Basham in Integrated Marketing Campaign Service
- Piper Mangan in Quick Serve Restaurant Management
Second place finishers were Maggie Shepherd in Apparel and Accessories Marketing; Daniel Ratley in Community Awareness Project; and Layla Lacefield and Jill Pierce in Sales Project.
Other top 5 students were Addie Sanders in Professional Selling and Carter Bernard and Miles Mudd in Sports and Entertainment Team Decision Making, who all placed third.
Coming in fourth place were Isabella Ford and Jaida Plant in Community Giving Project; Amora Carlos and Maryn Evans in Integrated Marketing Campaign Product; Samuel Kessinger in Principles of Business Management and Administration; and Zach Pierce in Restaurant and Food Service Management.
Fifth place finisher was Etta Jo Allen in Principles of Hospitality and Tourism.
Karson Powell participated in the Sports and Entertainment Series Event.
Diamond in the Rough award
The Diamond in the Rough award is given to members who have gone above and beyond in their local chapter. GCHS recipients were Brack Allen, Layla Lacefield, Connor Lee, and Addie Sanders.
Mangan served as KY DECA VP of Communications this past school year and was elected to serve as the 2026-27 KY DECA VP of Membership, and Ratley was part of the Executive Council as her served as President of Region 2 DECA.
Mangan and Ratley additionally assisted with the planning and execution of the conference.
DECA sponsors/coaches are Brittany Gary and Sherri Minton.
All results were provided by Grayson Co. Schools.
(Photo: GCHS DECA chapter, courtesy of Grayson Co. Schools)
By Grayson Co. Schools and Ken Howlett, News Director
