PSSA Students End the Year on a Bang at ICDC
AUSTIN – Weber State Professional Sales Student Association competitors ended the year on the right note last week by taking home multiple awards at the 2024 International Career Development Conference. The event, held in Austin, hosted over 1,500 students from over 100 different colleges and universities nationwide.
13 PSSA students represented Weber State at ICDC, with multiple competitors taking home the famed DECA glass hardware as trophies. A WSU team of Anna Johnson, Chet Larger, and Hannah Warren took second place overall in the Entertainment Marketing Division. The win was the first victory this season for both Larger and Warren.
“I was honored to be part of such an amazing program and surrounded by professors and classmates pushing me to be the best I can be.” Said Warren, a junior Professional Sales major from Stansbury Park. “I felt like at first my heart was going to jump out of my body. But as soon as we presentation started, I knew with all I’ve learned in class, and school thus far, prepared me for the moment.”
Along with placing in Entertainment Marketing, PSSA President Brooke Edwards won the Sales Challenge event sponsored by Enterprise Rentals. The year’s Sales Challenge had the largest number of participants since its inception, with over 170 students competing. Edwards came out the victor, winning $2000 in prize money, with Tavo Estrada from Utah State University, and Alejandro Gonzalez from Ensign College taking second and third respectively. The Sales Challenge win was Brooke’s second external sales competition win this year, having placed at the Arizona State Sales Competition. She was also one of the primary competitors at NCSC in Atlanta.
“ICDC was an unparalleled experience.” Said Larger, a junior Professional Sales major from Cincinnati. “We were afforded the opportunity to engage in spirited competition but also to forge meaningful connections with our peers.”
In addition to the competition wins, additional PSSA students were announced as finalists in DECA events at the event. Enoch Fleming was a finalist for the Professional Sales, as well as Morgan Ence for the Sales Challenge. Court Henderson and Edwards were also finalists for the Advertising Campaign event.
ICDC capped off another record run at the Sales Competition cycle, with WSU students placing in eight of the ten external events they competed in this year. The DECA win also reinforced Weber State as a dominant presence on the sales competition circuit; having placed or won in 19 separate sales events over the last three years.
“I’m just really proud of our students. They put in the time, the effort and the extra work to compete at these events and it shows when we see them smiling on the podium.” Said Brock Adams, coach of the PSSA. “There are skills that they develop at these events that are invaluable and are far more valuable than any textbook or course can teach them. Our students were incredible this year.”
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The Professional Sales Student Association is an open organization in the Department of Professional Sales, welcoming students from any major to compete in sales competitions. Members of the PSSA have the opportunity to broaden their sales network and experience outside of the classroom by being involved.