Ambassador Award Guidelines

The New Jersey DECA Ambassador Award is a non-competitive event that members can enter to be recognized for their work as a DECA member and Career and Technical Education student.  It provides them a guide for year-round engagement in their chapter, school, and community.  Students must show activity in all 4 areas of DECA’s guiding principles (Academically Prepared, Community Oriented, Professional Responsible, Experience Leaders) to be awarded this honor.  Members who are awarded through this program will receive a recognition pin, a certificate, and a letter to their principal recognizing their achievement.

Guidelines:

  • Students must complete 10 activities from the attached list.
  • Students must complete the 25 question DECA General Knowledge exam (released in December 2020) with a passing score of 22 of 25 correct (88%)
  • Students must be a paid DECA member by February 1, 2021.
  • Students must compete in the DECA Competitive Events Program.  They do not need to qualify, just have entered and competed at the district and/or state level.
  • Students may select 8 additional activities from the community oriented, professionally responsible or experienced leader areas, but must select one from each area.
  • Advisors will nominate and submit students and certify the student’s activities through an online submission process. 
  • There is no limit to the amount of students that can achieve this award, so chapters may submit as many students as wish to participate.
  • Students may participate more than one year.  Each year, the student will be recognized with a higher level of award.  For earning the award once, they will be recognized with the Diplomat Level, two years earns Executive Level, three years earns presidential Level and if a student achieves this award all 4 years, they will achieve emeritus level.  Students will earn the pin, certificate, and letter each year they achieve the award.
  • Advisors may complete the form located at http://ambawards.njdeca.org to submit students.

Ambassador Award – Activities

Must complete 10 total, but at least one from each area:

Academically Prepared

  • 25 Question Test with a 88% or higher. (Required)
  • Participate in the DECA Competitive Events Program (Required)

Community Oriented

  • Participate in 5 Hours of Community Service (exclusive of the items below).
  • Participate in your chapter’s State Community Service Project.
  • Write a one-page report on the charity involved in the State Community Service Project.
  • Research a local nonprofit, and make a presentation on their mission, needs, community served, and how to volunteer at a chapter meeting.
  • Participate in a school sponsored community service event.

Professionally Responsible

  • Prepare and post a social media graphic, poster, flyer, bulletin board or display promoting DECA.
  • Prepare and post a social media graphic, poster, flyer, bulletin board or display promoting the business courses at your school.
  • Create an informational video about a specific DECA program, conference, or competitive event for use with new members.
  • Participate in your chapter’s social media efforts and create a social media campaign about your chapter’s events.
  • Write a letter to a member of your school board discussing DECA and the benefits you’ve received from participation.

Experienced Leader

  • Write a one-page paper on a post-college, entry-level career in management, marketing, hospitality, or finance, including what the job entails, a salary range, and why you would or would not be interested in this role.
  • Bring an underclassman non-member to a DECA meeting to promote DECA to them.
  • Interview a DECA Alumni about their college/career path and make a presentation at a chapter meeting as to how DECA helped them.
  • Prepare a resume and cover letter to apply for an entry-level position.
  • Participate in a leadership training event (in-person or virtual).
  • Attend a meeting or event of another CTSO in your school.
  • Serve in a leadership role on the local, state, or international level.

Study Guide:

NJ DECA Ambassador Award Test Study Guide

The Ambassador Award Exam will be comprised of 25 questions. Students must score 84% or higher to be eligible for the Ambassador award. The exam will be administered online and will contain multiple choice questions.  The following information will be asked on the Exam:

  1. Birthplace of DECA (place and date)
  2. Color of organization
  3. Levels of DECA
  4. DECA, Inc. Headquarters
  5. Divisions of DECA
  6. DECA’s Mission
  7. DECA’s International Regions
  8. New Jersey DECA’s Regions and Districts
  9. National Officers (High School Division)
  10. DECA Inc’s Executive Director
  11. New Jersey DECA’S Executive Director
  12. National Publications
  13. Dates of Organization (State and National)
  14. National & State Conferences and Events
  15. Southern Region Conference
  16. State Community Service Project
  17. National DECA Theme 2021-2022 & New Jersey DECA Theme
  18. Current Executive Officer Team
  19. State Website
  20. National DECA Guide
  21. States in the North Atlantic Region
  22. Competitive Events
  23. DECA Challenges & Campaigns
  24. School Based Enterprises
  25. DECA International Conference Cities
  26. CTSOs
  27. NJ DECA State Office

Links:

Ambassador Award Submission Form

Ambassador Award Test