More than 26,000 high school students, advisors, and industry professionals from around the world gathered in Atlanta, GA, at the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC), and Ladue Horton Watkins High School DECA members stood out, securing top-tier international honors.

The competition at ICDC is the pinnacle of the DECA year, representing the top tier of over 320,000 members worldwide. Ladue is proud to celebrate these standout achievements:

• Aalee Khan (11) and Alex Zhang (10): Earned 2nd Place Overall in the Financial Services Team Decision Making event. Placing on the international podium is an extraordinary feat that demonstrates elite-level mastery of financial analysis and strategic problem-solving.
• Madison Stockwell (12): Named a recipient of the prestigious Harry A. Applegate Scholarship (Hilton Scholarship), recognizing her academic excellence and commitment to the DECA mission.

The sheer number of Ladue students who qualified for the international stage speaks to the program’s incredible depth. Our Rams competed across nearly every sector of the business world, including entrepreneurship, hospitality, and integrated marketing.

Our 2026 ICDC Competitors:

• Team Events: Chloe Al-Shathir, Violet Coughlin, Aalee Khan, Alex Zhang, Alia Al Husseini, Joie Sandler, Minami Murashita, Shresthi Sivashanmugam, Sydney Gao, Zoe Mei, Cohen Kennedy, Parker Margolis, Regina Copeland, Talia Poremba, Norah Martin, Kyla Spiegelglass, Audrey Stockwell, Madison Stockwell, John Caito, Jordan Oiknine, Hotaru Murashita, and Renae Yang.
• Individual Events: Tyler Hayes, Arjun Arora, Eliana Gebrehiwet, Anish Maganty, and Anna Zeng.

DECA competitive events are more than just tests; they are simulations of real-world business scenarios. Students are evaluated by industry professionals on their ability to think on their feet, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems.

By engaging in these high-level experiences, our students are developing durable skills, like financial literacy, leadership, and public speaking, that ensure they are future-ready for life beyond Ladue.

Please join us in congratulating our DECA members and their sponsors, Jessica Kennedy and Megan Bruce, for representing Ladue Schools with such distinction on the international stage!