Lafayette High School students excel at 2026 DECA Nationals in Atlanta
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Seven students from Lafayette High School earned recognition at the 2026 DECA International Career Development Conference in Atlanta last month, showcasing the school's strength in business and marketing education.
The conference, held April 25-28 at the Georgia World Congress Center, drew more than 25,000 high school students, advisors, business professionals and alumni from across the globe for competition, leadership development and networking, according to a Fayette County Public Schools announcement.
Meibelle Wiesmann earned a top 10 exam score in Buying & Merchandising Team Decision Making and, along with HaiWen Shi, received certification from the American Marketing Association. Isabelle Dinh and Madelyn Dinh took home an Award of Excellence in Buying & Merchandising Operations Research. Jiya Sheth, Julie Li and Athena Saturday earned an Award of Excellence in Hospitality & Tourism Research, while Alexandra Joiner Garcia received an Award of Excellence in Principles of Business Management & Administration. Eric Nunez graduated from the Aspire Leadership Academy, and the Lafayette DECA chapter also was recognized for its membership campaign.
DECA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. The organization's competitive events are aligned with national curriculum standards and include role-plays, case studies and online simulations across the four career clusters, allowing students to gain real-world business experience.
Lafayette High School, located at 401 Reed Lane in Lexington, is a highly rated public school with more than 2,300 students in grades 9-12. The school is known for its diverse academic and athletic offerings, including its School for the Creative and Performing Arts and Pre-Engineering program.
This spring's DECA success adds to Lafayette's recent achievements, which include earning the 2026 eSports Championship and receiving recognition in multiple other academic and artistic competitions.