Abbie (Leonard) Gunia, a 2016 Burke High School graduate and 2-year DECA member, exemplifies the spirit of leadership and service. As Vice President of Hospitality during her senior year, Abbie and her team organized Pink Week, a weeklong initiative that raised $1,500 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation through events like a pink color run and pink-outs at volleyball and football games. 🔷 Their efforts earned 3rd Place at State DECA and an automatic qualification for ICDC—a testament to their dedication and creativity.

"Some of my best memories are from DECA competitions. I enhanced my public speaking, built my social network, and learned the value of preparation and timely deliverables. DECA is as close to the 'real world' as you can get in high school!"

Today, Abbie continues to make an impact as an Account Manager at Buildertrend. We’re proud of her accomplishments and the example she sets for current Burke DECA members. 🔷💙

Halle actively participated in DECA, holding the position of Vice President in the 2012-2013 academic year. Her engagement extended to attending conferences, competing, and achieving success at the state level. Competitions provided excellent practice and real-world experiences. She recalled the dedication she put into her business plan and presentation, this practice still serving her throughout college and her professional career. Through DECA, Halle was able to solidify her interest in business and marketing at a young age, it influenced her college studies and subsequent career choices. However, one of her fondest memories of DECA is the opportunity to network, where she was able to meet many incredible people who shared her passion for business and marketing.

After graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor's in journalism (majoring in advertising/pr) in 2016, Halle initially worked in a sales role at a tech startup in San Diego. Despite gaining valuable experience, she realized her inclination towards a more marketing-focused career. In 2019, she found Audacity Health, a brand strategy and activation agency in San Diego, CA, where she has been for almost five years. Her current position as an Account Director at Audacity Health, involves serving as a liaison between clients and the agency. While her primary responsibility is client-agency liaison, the nature of a small agency requires her to take on diverse tasks. Overall, DECA has proved to help Halle in her career. It is an incredibly valuable experience. She emphasized the opportunity to explore the fields of business, build connections, and potentially discover a fitting future career.

What was your favorite part about DECA?  

“The social events, like Trunk or Treat, I enjoyed that. I also enjoyed working with the executive team, just being able to interact with them outside of class was really fun!”

Theresa’s involvement in DECA spanned three years, where she held leadership positions and participated as a competitor. In her sophomore year, she served as a Board Member of Marketing. In her junior year, she assumed the position of Vice President of Competition and, as a senior, she held the office of Chapter President. In competition, she engaged in the  individual series competition of Retail Merchandising and collaborated on a Community Giving Written Project.

Reflecting on her DECA experience, Theresa emphasized the personal growth she experienced as a competitor. These competitions afforded her invaluable opportunities to refine her presentation skills and interpersonal communication skills. These skills continue to hold significant relevance in her life, especially as a Business Administration major at UNO. Beyond the focus of business, the betterment of her social skills and confidence in public speaking have proven beneficial in her ongoing internship!

Theresa encourages people to join DECA because it gets you out of your comfort zone and helps you become a more confident person, whether that is in public speaking or your quick thinking and problem-solving skills!