Members

This is what showing up looks like.

Being a Vista Ridge DECA member means afternoons in the room where the next ICDC finalist gets built. Roleplay reps, real business projects, and a chapter culture that helps you get better. You don't need experience. You just need to show up.

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Learn by doing

Every project ties back to a real skill: pitching, consulting, researching; skills to carry you through college and career.

A built-in community

More than 200 members deep. Study groups, group hangs, mentorships, and officers who actually know your name.

A path of growth

Members become competitors become officers become alumni who still show up to judge mock comps. There's always a next step.

Date TBD
First Meeting

General Chapter Meeting

This is where it starts — membership, calendar overview, and event sign-ups. Come even if you're still deciding.

Date & time coming soon
Portal in!
Minga

Members check in through Minga during Ranger Time on campus. This is where you are required to portal in for meetings. Bookmark it!

Access Minga

Get involved

Join now! Easy as 1, 2, 3... & 4.

Convinced? Good — there's no minimum GPA to walk in the door, and the whole process takes less time than a class period. Here's the full path from "interested" to "member."

  1. Fill out the membership form

    Click the Interest Form link below and fill it out. Takes about five minutes.

  2. Join Google Classroom

    This is where every resource lives all year. Bookmark it, and turn on notifications.

  3. Show up to the first meeting

    General Chapter Meeting — Ranger Time on campus, or join virtually if you can't make it in person.

  4. Pay chapter dues

    Dues cover your DECA Inc. membership, chapter materials, etc. MUST BE PAID BEFORE DECISION DAY!

Get with it!
Interest Form

Thinking about joining but not sure yet? Fill out this quick interest form and check the fit.

Fill It Out
Know your stuff
Handbook

Every rule, deadline, and expectation for the year lives in one place. Learn it, live it, love it.

Chapter Handbook (PDF)

FAQ

Before you sign up.

Do I need experience to join?

No experience needed — DECA teaches you everything from scratch. Roleplay, exams, and business skills are taught for first-timers just as much as returning competitors.

Do I need to be enrolled in a business class?

Yes. Active enrollment in a Vista Ridge business, marketing, or finance course is required to be a DECA member — that's a hard requirement, not a suggestion. Talk to your counselor if you need to add one.

What if I don't want to compete?

Competing is optional. There are many other ways for you to contribute to Vista Ridge DECA.

Meetings

What to expect once you're in.

General meeting dates are posted in the Google Classroom, with additional mock competitions added as competitions approach. Nothing here requires you to already know what DECA is — that's what the meetings are for. Expect a mix of general meetings, officer-led roleplay workshops, and guest speakers — see the full calendar for exact dates.

DECA Chapter Campaigns

What the chapter is building this year.

Texas DECA and DECA Inc. recognize chapters that go all-in on five campaigns each year — membership, community service, promotion, innovation, and advocacy. This is where those initiatives come from, what they involve, and how you can be part of one.

Membership Campaign Due Dec 1, 2026

Just like in business, continued growth is one of the keys to success. DECA's membership campaign is designed to help your chapter grow by making the DECA experience available to more student members, keeping alumni involved and engaging professional members such as administrators, teachers, parents and business partners.

Ideas to try:

  • Build a chapter website landing page explaining DECA and the benefits of joining
  • Produce a series of TikToks or Reels promoting membership to the student body
  • Set up an email funnel for interested students, alumni, and professionals
  • Reach out to recent grads directly, or start an alumni Facebook group
  • Run a contest for which class can recruit the most alumni or professional members
  • Share testimonial posts from current and alumni members on why they joined
  • Host a "Find a Freshman" challenge — each upperclassman recruits and mentors a freshman all year
  • Throw an ice cream social or pizza party for current and prospective members
  • Put together a membership package (t-shirt, framed certificate, chapter swag) to land professional members
Community Service Campaign Due Dec 1, 2026

DECA members are always finding unique ways to serve their community. Get recognized for your efforts through this campaign.

Community service campaign ideas:

  • Volunteer to help with social media for a local charity or organization
  • Helping at a food bank or homeless shelter
  • Partnering with a local charity for a community event
  • Putting together thanksgiving baskets for families in need
  • Write letters to local hospitals, veterans or seniors
  • Working with the counselors at your school to organize a school supply drive
  • Organize an event at a local elementary school or after school organization to tutor or read stories to younger students
  • Conduct an MDA Miracle Minute by designating one minute during a school day dedicated to raising as many funds as possible for the Muscular Dystrophy Association
  • Organize a financial literacy workshop for middle schoolers or senior citizens in your community
Promotional Campaign Due Dec 1, 2026

This campaign provides chapter members an opportunity to share with their school and community what DECA is all about and how their chapter is making a positive impact on its members and community.

More ways to promote the chapter:

  • Produce a DECA chapter promo video
  • Host a competitive-event info session or mock competition
  • Launch a DECA podcast or blog with your upper-level class or officer team
  • Run a social media takeover of your school's accounts
  • Set up a "Wall of Fame" in your classroom for member accomplishments
  • Host an alumni panel — invite grads back to share competition tips and how DECA is showing up in their lives now
  • Partner with a local business for a "DECA Day": members work a shift, the business gives back a percentage to the chapter
  • Design a DECA bulletin board somewhere high-traffic at school
  • Set up a booth at your school's club fair
  • Run a contest or giveaway on chapter social media
  • Share a DECA fact each day on morning announcements
Innovations + Entrepreneurship Campaign Due Dec 1, 2026

Innovation and entrepreneurship are the driving forces behind today's business success stories. This campaign gives DECA members the opportunity to explore the entrepreneurial spirit in their own community.

Each team delivers a 3-minute pitch to the chapter — or a panel of guest judges — covering the customer profile, ownership type, and unique selling proposition. Real business concepts, real stakes.

Official recognition requires:

  • At least 75% of members complete the Innovation Activity
  • Three interviews and profiles of local businesses, submitted
  • One local entrepreneur or guest speaker hosted for the chapter

Other ways to build toward it:

  • Interview three local entrepreneurs and profile their journeys — turn the interviews into content
  • Host a guest speaker event with a local entrepreneur
  • Run a chapter "Innovation Showcase" for the student body or community
  • Spotlight local businesses or student ventures in a social media mini-campaign
  • Partner with the school on a student pitch competition for school-community problems
  • Recognize local entrepreneurs on announcements, in newsletters, or with a certificate
Advocacy Campaign Due Mar 1, 2027

This campaign takes place in February, during Career and Technical Education Month®. Completing three school outreach activities, three public policymaker outreach activities and three community outreach activities will get your chapter recognized for this campaign.

Ideas to try:

  • Present a DECA project to your school board, city council, or county commission
  • Get your mayor to sign a "DECA Day" proclamation
  • Write your school and district leaders advocating for CTE classes and CTSOs like DECA
  • Host a project showcase for DECA parents and community members
  • Visit the state capitol to meet legislators and advocate for CTE funding
  • Produce short PSA videos encouraging middle schoolers to sign up for CTE classes
  • Run a month-long social campaign sharing DECA and CTE facts
  • Host a luncheon for chapter business partners
  • Have officers visit other classes and feeder schools to talk about DECA

Leadership

Officers run DECA.

Once you're in, there's a whole ladder above general membership. DECA's leadership pathway doesn't stop at chapter president — it goes all the way to the international stage. Here's how it works, and who's leading Vista Ridge this year.

1

Chapter Officer

Run meetings, plan events, and mentor new members. Applications open at the end of the year for the following school year.

2

District Officer

Represent every chapter in the district — plan District CDC and lead events across schools.

3

State Officer

Elected at State CDC, State Officers represent Texas DECA and run programming for thousands of members.

4

Executive Officer

The top of the pathway. International officers elected at ICDC to lead DECA Inc.'s student voice worldwide.

2025–26 Officer Team

Meet the Vista Ridge team.

SJ

Sanjay Thunga

President

Senior - The punchiest Jackson.

KM

Kaveri Mukherjee

Executive Vice President

Junior - The one in charge.

RS

Rohan Sengupta

Sr. VP of External Operations

Junior - But looks like a Senior

NK

Nathan Kwan

Sr. VP of internal Operations

Senior - Kind of a big deal.

Get more involved

Membership is the foundation, sky is the limit.

There's a real place in this chapter for every member, not just the ~100 who compete each year. Here's how the rest of us keep Vista Ridge DECA running — and build skills that matter just as much doing it.

Ongoing

Corporate Challenges

Demonstrate the knowledge and skills you've learned in the classroom by showcasing your creative side.

Per event

Networking Opportunities

Help plan and participate in chapter fundraisers and member socials. Great fit if organizing is your thing.

Flexible

Community Service Hours

Chapter service projects throughout the year count toward NHS and other honor-society hour requirements — ask an officer what's coming up.

Questions before you join?

Talk to a real person.

Contact the Chapter