Honors & Scholarships
Earn these exclusive awards.
SCHOLARSHIPS
North Dakota DECA offers scholarships to be presented at the State DECA Career Development Conference in February (Collegiate) and March (High School).
DECA's scholarship program provides over $200,000 in scholarships to high school and college DECA members at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) each year. Many corporate partners of DECA provide scholarships through the DECA scholarship program. DECA Inc. administers the program based on guidelines set by the donor. DECA scholarships are mostly merit-based.
All senior high school students are encouraged to complete the scholarship application.
EMERGING LEADER AWARD - DECA, Inc.
Available for High School Members
DECA’s Emerging Leader Honor Award recognizes members studying marketing, finance, hospitality and management for being academically prepared, community oriented, professionally responsible, experienced leaders through participation in DECA.
To qualify for the DECA Emerging Leader Honor Award a student must:
- Be a current DECA member
- Be a senior
- Have an overall cumulative grade point average of 3.2 for the previous seven semesters (with a 4.0 being equal to an “A”)
- Complete at least one course in one of the following areas: marketing, business management and administration, entrepreneurship, finance, or hospitality and tourism
- Participate in at least three of the areas listed under Community Oriented, Professionally Responsible and Experienced Leader
STUDENT PROCEDURES:
Nominations will be open from February 1 - March 31, 2027.
- Log in to the student portal in the Membership System (Use your DECA Member ID and Password that you recieved from your Chapter Advisor)
- Click the Emerging Honor Award Self-Nomination tab (only displays for members in 12th grade)
- Check beside each qualification you have met
- Sign the application and it will be forwarded to your advisor for review
- Members can see if their application is pending, approved or denied
ADVISOR PROCEDURES
Nominations will be open from February 1 - March 31, 2027.
- Advisors will receive an email that a student member has initiated an Emerging Leader Honor Award
- Log in to the Membership System and navigate to the Emerging Leader Honor Award tab
- You will see a status beside each member (awaiting approval, approved, denied) or a “Nominate” button
- You can nominate a student using the “Nominate” button on the Emerging Leader Honor Award tab.
- Upon approval by the advisor and DECA, advisors or members can print their certificate through the membership system under the Emerging Leader Honor Award tab.
DEADLINES
All National and North Dakota DECA Scholarships are Due January 11, 2027
*The North Dakota DECA scholarship application is open November 1, 2026 to January 11, 2027
Awards & Recognition
Outstanding New Member of the Year
The members who join DECA and jump in to experience every aspect of DECA and help others do the same receive this honor. Each Chapter's nomination are recognized at the State Leadership Conference and one member, chosen by a panel of judges, receives the award.
Advisors from each ND Chapter are able to nominate an Outstanding New Member.
Past Scholarship & Award Winners
Outstanding New Member State Honor Award
1998 Lori Pawlak, Richland County Vocational Center, Wahpeton
1999 Jared Bickler, Minot High School, Minot
2000 Staci Johnson, Fargo South High School, Fargo
2001 Jessica Diaz, North Valley Voc Tech Center, Grafton
2002 Lacy Mau, Minot High School, Minot
2003 Michelle Bailly, Fargo South High School, Fargo
2004 Kyleigh Monson, Bottineau High School
2005 Amy Auginbaugh, Fargo South High School
2006 Danny Weigel, Grand Forks Central High School
2007 Carly Fjeld, Minot High School, Minot
2008 Nick Nelson, Fargo North High School
2009 Nora Mihalick, Minot High School
2010 Courtney Jacobson, Fargo South High School
2011 Brandon Glimsdahl, Grand Forks Central
2012 Jordyn Peterson, Southeast Career and Technology Center, Oakes
2013 Breanna Theademan, Southeast Career and Technology Center, Oakes
2014 Ellen Trotter, Davies High School
2015 Savannah Kramlich, James Valley CTC, Jamestown
2016 Nathan Horner, Davies High School
2017 Carlie Bell, Wahpeton
2018 Claire Wagner, Southeast Career and Technology Center, Oakes
2019 Hayden Rostvet, Northern Cass
2020 Karissa Hammer, Northern Cass
2021 Ella Keith, Bottineau High School
2022 Nick Newsam, Fargo North High School
2023 Sydney Shoemaker, Washburn High School
2024 Beth Schmaltz, Rugby High School
2025 Keagan Schneider, Minot High School
Taking You Higher Scholarship – Sponsored by Former State Officers
2000 Colin Eide, West Fargo High School
2001 Dan Walsh, Grand Forks Red River High School
2002 Mike Deyle, Bismarck High School
2003 Kate Anderson, Fargo South High School
2004 Randi Vennes, Minot High School
2005 Chelsey Schwartz, Fargo South High School
2006 Kelly Brademeyer, SERCTC Oakes
2007 Celina Poukka, SERCTC Oakes
2008 Kim Zuroff, Bismarck Century
2009 Tosha College, Minot High School
2010 Evan Bong, Fargo South High School
2011 Sierra Murphy, Minot High School
2012 Morgan Thompson, Fargo North High School
2013 Alyssa Moum, Minot High School
2014 Cole Bachmeier, West Fargo
2015 Ryan Bjerke, Fargo North
2016 Christian Wedin, Grand Forks Central
2017 Isabella Hansen, Oakes
2018 Erik Anderson, Fargo North
2019 Jack Boub, Fargo Davies
2020 Ryan Hermes, SRCTC Oakes
2021 Garret Meehl, SRCTC Oakes
2022 Logan Heger, West Fargo
2023 Peyton Bradley, Davies High School
2024 Jackson Guthmiller, Bismarck Century
2025 Sawyer Heger, West Fargo
North Dakota DECA Scholarship—Tribute to Leonard Pokladnik
2000 Jason Burckhard, Minot High School
2001 Jenni Glick, Minot High School
2002 Leif Mattson, Minot High School
2003 Stephanie Sandstrom, Minot High School
2004 Katie Froshour, Grand Forks Central
2005 Leila Nazari, Fargo North High School
2006 Rebecca Sinner, Central Cass High School
2007 Bridget Nagel, Grand Forks Central
2008 Hannah Larson, Minot High School
2009 Brittany Walker, Red River High School
2010 Maria Pitner, Minot High School
2011 Rachel Nelson, Fargo South High School
2012 Nicholas Reitan, West Fargo High School
2013 Abbey Benson, Fargo South High School
2014 Rachel Fix, Bottineau High School
2015 Shelby Gilenski, SE Career and Technology Center, Oakes
2016 Sam Novak, NVCTC Grafton
2017 Brailyn Weber, Davies
2018 Bailey Skjefte, SERCTC Oakes
2019 Ameena Jovanovich, Fargo North
2020 Kennedy Shereck, NVCTC
2021 Charmaine Haas, Napoleon High School
2022 Hannah Ripplinger, Legacy High School
2023 Josephine Machayya, Sheyenne High School
2024 Aanya Kumar, Bottineau High School
2025 Andrew Ternes, LACTC Devils Lake
Oswald M. Hager Leadership Award (scholarship to student attending UND)
1980 Kevin Reisenauer
1981 Beverly Heinle
1982 Mark Lindblom
1983 Tammy Johnson Swick, Donna Silbernagel, Scott Shuler
1984 Kelly Kruise, Judy Schneider
1985 Tammie Hagness, Aaron Schultz
1986 Mitch Uslin
1987 Judy Arnason
1988 Colleen Skaaden
1989 Greg Anderson
1990 Sandy LeTexier
1991 Randy Dick, Tammy Staves
1992 Jeremy Berg
1993 Thom Lewis, Cory Koesterman 14
1994 Steven Shirley, Jackie Marquart, Christine Sorensen
1995 Darren Bullinger, Amy Tripp, Sara Steinkopf
1996 Tom Korsmo, Kelly Bullinger
1997 Amy Tripp, Joanna Wahl
1998 Mary Lindgren
1999 Angie Anderson, DeAnn Burckhard
2000 Jared Bickler, Julie Johnston
2001 Jenni Glick, Chad Wolf
2002 Leif Mattson, Brett Bergman
2003 Kate Anderson, Daniel Waind
2004 Marissa Taylor
2005 Brittany Johnston and Emily Metz
2006 Matt Bakke
2007 Kyhlie McLaughlin, Minot
2008 Bryn Seay
2009 Katie Steffan, Grand Forks Central
2010 Ashley Brey
2011 Jade Stanislowski, Red River
2012 None
2013 Mitch Hersch, Mandan
2014 Ashley VanderBush, Fargo South
2015 John Praska, SE CTC, Oakes
2016 Taylor Albrecht, Sheyenne High School
2017 Paige Rudnik, Grafton NVCTC
2018 None
2019 Carly Jordan, Grand Forks Central
2020 Aidan Fire, Grand Forks Central
2021 Brady Meland, Red River High School
Applebee’s DECA Scholarship
2006 Jodi Olson, Grand Forks Central ($500)
2007 Rachel Welk, Fargo North ($600)
2008 Ben Berg, Minot High School ($900)
2009 Ashley Delisle, Red River High School ($1,000)
2010 Nick Nelson, Fargo North ($1,000)
2011 Katelyn Larson, Minot High School ($1,000) and Brittany Diederich, Fargo South ($500)
2012 Jenna Coghlan, Valley City High School ($1,000) and Callie Roth, Fargo North ($500)
2013 Hannah Fishbeck, Mandan ($1,000) and Emily Borud, Minot ($500)
2014 Austin Klapperich, Oakes ($1,000) and Addison Long, Fargo North ($500)
2015 Anna Lawley, Fargo South ($1,000) and Lydia Hanna, Fargo South ($500)
2016 Neha Patel, Fargo South ($1,000) and Nathan Glass, Mandan ($500)
2017 Ashley Brandriet, Oakes ($1,000)
2018 Mackenzie Korbel, Fargo South ($1,000) and Elisabeth Ehnert, Sheyenne ($500)
2019 Kolten Reisenauer, Mandan and Jack Dorsher, Fargo North
2020 Isabelle McLean, Fargo Davies ($1,000) and Oliver Dalmi, Grand Forks Central ($1,000)
2021 None Awarded
2022 Linnea Axtman, Fargo Davies and Dawson Beck, Washburn High School
2023 Kaylee Kirkeby, Grand Forks Central and Sierra Rodriguez, Washburn High School
2024 Mattyson Ertelt, Lake Area Career and Technology Center and Lauren Glennon, Central Cass
2025 Emery Holland, Central Cass and Naomi Rahman, Red River
North Dakota DECA Scholarship
2019 Natalie Buck, Grand Forks Central
2020 Isabelle McLean, Davies and Oliver Dalmi, Grand Forks Central
2021 Clara Hanson, Grand Forks Central
2022 Gretchen Reich-Keller, Fargo South and Abby Richman, Northern Cass
2023 Ross Motter, Jamestown High School and Elise Williams, Davies High School
2024 Cannie Veldkamp, Jamestown
2025 Amelia Hawley, Fargo South
A+ Services and Dakota Impressions Landscaping and Design DECA Scholarship
2018 Erik Anderson, Fargo North and Bailey Skjefte, Oakes ($500 scholarship each)
Oswald M. Hager Award of Excellence
1977 Karen Liere, UND Lake Region
1978 Todd Goschen, Fargo North High School
1979 Bruce Harmon, Fargo South High School
1980 Joel Lilliquist, Minot High School
1981 Ron Davy, Bismarck State College
1982 Les Hanson, Lake Area Vocational Center, Devils Lake
1983 Renee Wonsor, NDSU Bottineau
1984 Terry Schneider, Richland County Vocational Center, Wahpeton
1985 Orris Gulson, Grand Forks Central High School
1986 Steve Anderson, West Fargo High School
1987 Rod Roaldson, James Valley Vocational Center, Jamestown
1988 Kevin Reisenauer, Minot High School
1989 Garry Bullinger, Bottineau High School
1990 Larry Rehn, Bismarck High School
1991 Donna Fricke, Bismarck Century High School
1992 Neil Litton, Central Cass High School, Casselton
1993 Greg Anderson, Southeast Vocational Center, Oakes
1994 Kimberly Clark, North Valley Vocational Center, Grafton
1995 Dayle Dietz, North Dakota State College of Science, Wahpeton
1996 Keith Ronkowski, Grand Forks Red River High School
1997 Elsie Reichert, Dickinson High School 17
1998 Dr. James Navara, University of North Dakota
1999 Duane Pederson, North Dakota State College of Science
2000 none
2001 Sara Steinkopf, Fargo South High School
2002 Craig Erickson, Fargo North High School
2003 Tim Schilling, Valley City High School
2004 Bruce Harmon, Fargo South High School
2005 Keith Ronkowski, Grand Forks Red River High School
2006 Michelle Boyeff, Minot High School
2007 Steve Anderson, West Fargo High School
2008 Craig Erickson, Fargo North High School
2009 Larry Rehn, Bismarck High School
2010 Amber Aberle, Mandan High School
2011 Jason Holland, Davies High School
2012 Neil Litton, Central Cass High School
2013 None Awarded
2014 Leonard Kjelland, SE Region CTC
2015 Troy Olson, Century High School
2016 Kelli Sitzler-Erickson, Fargo North High School
2017 Nathan Simpson, Bottineau High School
2018 Don Fry, Mandan High School
2019 Randy Wilson, Mandan High School
2020 Sheila Larson, Valley City High School
2021 David Bitz, Devils Lake CTC
2022 Brent Polum, Red River High School
2023 Dustin Norby, Red River High School
2024 Greg Borders, West Fargo High School
2025 Lisa Hoffman, Central Cass High School
NDSCS Scholarship
2017 Carter Kipp, Wahpeton High School
2018 None Awarded
2019 None Awarded
2020 Josie Welder, Wahpeton High School
2021 None Awarded
2022 None Awarded
2023 Kadence Wiedmeier, Southeast Career and Technology Center
2024 None Awarded
Lake Region DECA Scholarship – must attend LRSC in Devils Lake
2004 Ashley Miller, Minot High School
2005 Kyle Schneider, Lake Area Career and Technology Center, Devils Lake
2006 Eric Hove, Lake Area Career and Technology Center, Devils Lake
2007 Not Awarded
2008 Jordan Mertens, Lake Area Career and Technology Center, Devils Lake
2009 Melanah Poole, Minot High School
2010 Adam Kitchens, Lake Area Career and Technology Center, Devils Lake
2011 Austin Luehring, Lake Area Career and Technology Center, Devils Lake
2012 None Awarded
2013 Brandon Tofte, Lake Area Career and Technology Center, Devils Lake
2014-2023 None Awarded
2024 Kaden Wass, Lake Area Career and Technology Center
Minot State University Scholarship – must attend MSU in Minot
2013 Kelsey Humphreys, Minot High School
2014 Jordan Busch, Minot High School
2015 Haddie Lucy, Minot High School
2016 Krista Savage, Stanley High School
2017 Makensey Arlien, Minot High School
2018 None Awarded
2019 Kathleen Gush, Minot
2020 None Awarded
2021 Ashley Holen, Watford City High School
2022 Peyton Andrew, Minot High School
2023-2024 None Awarded