This story was submitted by Sofe Jalil, grade 10.

On Dec. 5, Harker DECA partnered with BASIS Independent Silicon Valley DECA to host MiniCon, an event organized to give first-year DECA members the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of a real conference. It included workshops hosted by the California state officer team, testing, roleplays and an Award Ceremony to conclude the event.   

Following the Opening Ceremony introducing Harker DECA and BISV DECA, Harker DECA members took the Business Administration Core (BAC) test. BASIS students took their tests from their campus, so they arrived later for the second Opening Ceremony. Once testing was completed, participants were sorted into  time slots for role play activities. Others attended workshops hosted by Harker DECA officers and DECA’s California State Officers.

“MiniCon took us all to the next level. Whether that was networking with new people, or learning and implementing the concepts gained from workshops, the experience was great for attendees” said sophomore Alrisha Chen, director of community engagement at Harker DECA. 

Harker DECA’s finance team, juniors Bazigh Tahirzad and David Kelly, hosted “How to Ace the DECA Roleplay,” talking about the different ways to stand out while competing in a roleplay. The session also featured a panel of state and school officers who answered student questions. Next, the California DECA state officers hosted their workshop, which presented tips on how to utilize engaging visuals for competitive success. 

‍After role plays were finished, students enjoyed dinner and socialized with one another while the Harker DECA competitions team calculated all of the participants’ scores. Students and parents later gathered to hear the final placements of the competition.

“I think that this MiniCon was a great opportunity to practice for the upcoming conferences in 2026, and it was so fun to see that the students enjoyed it!” said said junior Abby Wang, Harker DECA’s director of testing.