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From founding Prep’s first DECA chapter to turning it into the school’s largest upper school extracurricular and representing New Mexico at a national conference, rising senior Oliver Rich-Jackson ’26 has been making bold business moves -- before even graduating.

It all started with an empty spot in his schedule and a conversation with DECA students from another school. The idea struck: Why not bring DECA to Prep? As it turned out, friend and fellow entrepreneur-in-the-making Saxon Proffitt ’26 had been thinking the same thing. The two teamed up and went in search of a faculty sponsor.

Enter Director of College Counseling Pablo Torres, who agreed to advise the new venture. And just like that, Prep DECA was open for business.

DECA -- short for Distributive Education Clubs of America -- is a global organization with more than 297,000 high school and college members. It prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management through case-based competitions, workshops, and real-world simulations.

At first, Rich-Jackson and Proffitt set modest goals: recruit the 10 students needed to launch an official chapter and make it through a few competitions. “We were both hopeful we’d get to nationals, but unsure -- especially since it was all brand new,” Rich-Jackson says. “I personally wanted to make DECA the biggest high school extracurricular at Prep.”

It didn’t take long for that ambition to become reality.

In just its first year, the club pulled off a list of standout accomplishments:

• 17 of 19 district competitors advanced to state.
• Six state qualifiers made it to the finals: Rich-Jackson, Proffitt, Sutton Hatchell ’26, Evan Saavedra ’27, Trevor Nguyen ’26, and Miles Manzanares ’25.
• Manzanares won first place in “Principles of Finance.”
• Prep took home the award for Best Chapter Recruitment.
• Rich-Jackson was one of just four New Mexico students -- out of 2,700 statewide DECA members -- selected to attend the DECA International Career Development Conference in Orlando.
• While there, he participated in the Emerging Leader Series for rising DECA officers.

For Rich-Jackson, the conference wasn’t just a highlight -- it was a launchpad. “I wanted to bring back everything I could to grow the chapter,” he says. “I want to be a resource for our school as well as a leader.”

Torres was impressed by how quickly the group found its footing. “For the first year having this club at Prep, our students did very well,” he says. “It was a huge learning curve for them -- and for me as their advisor.” 

The steepest part of that curve? Management. “Managing students in class is like herding cats, with a few exceptions,” Rich-Jackson explains. Prep students are involved in so many other activities, it’s a challenge to get everyone in the same place at the same time.

Still, the benefits are undeniable. Through DECA, students gain hands-on business experience, sharpen leadership and communication skills, and get access to scholarships, internships, and industry connections.

Torres believes the group’s early success clearly demonstrates Sandia Prep's long-standing entrepreneurial spirit. “Sandia Prep students have a natural knack for success in business," he adds.

For Rich-Jackson, it’s been transformative: Instead of asking others for guidance, he’s the one in charge. “I have gotten some real leadership experience,” he says. “I have had to learn research skills, scheduling, budgeting, and how to manage a group of people in addition to being able to call the shots -- mostly. It’s inspired the most growth and been the most rewarding experience I’ve had at Sandia Prep and maybe my life.”

Looking ahead, Rich-Jackson plans to study business and computer science, with eyes on the University of Pennsylvania -- but, as he puts it, “Any good college on the East Coast is a contender. I feel most comfortable in a city environment.”

And as for the future of DECA at Prep? “We’re just getting started,” he says.