Inglemoor High School’s DECA chapter won first place at the Washington DECA State Career Development Conference for the 17th consecutive year on March 7 in Bellevue. The Inglemoor team was comprised of 92 high school students from Bothell and Kenmore.

Among the estimated 3,600 competitors, 51 students from Inglemoor High School placed in the top seven of their categories, with nearly 25 percent of the awards being first place. All 51 students in the top seven of their category will earn an invitation to compete at the international competition in April. Of the approximate 200 invitations being awarded, Inglemoor has earned 41, the highest number among the 41 schools participating.

Despite this year’s change in advisors, chapter membership decline and decrease in state qualifiers, Inglemoor overcame all odds by ramping up student, teacher and parent involvement according to Cassie Le, Inglemoor DECA’s Vice President of Sales.

“We definitely had to work a lot harder this year, in order to defend our title,” Le said. “It was a transitional year for all of us, but I’m pretty proud of the ultimate result.”

The 51 students will now move on to compete at DECA’s most prestigious competition, the International Career Development Conference, in Orlando. As Inglemoor was crowned the winning school of the 2014 international competition, they hope to maintain this title this year, April 25-28, as well.