Three Oak Harbor High School students have learned business basics through the school’s business-oriented DECA program.

They displayed their knowledge during a recent state DECA competition in a performance good enough to earn them a spot in the national competition that takes place later this month in Orlando, Florida.

Those students are juniors Brittany Loveng and Arianna O’Dell and senior Hannah Leahy. Loveng and O’Dell are making their second appearance in the national competition.

Last year O’Dell placed in the top 10 in the quick food restaurant management category and Loveng placed in the top 20 in the food marketing category.

This year, however, they competed in different categories. O’Dell participated in food marketing and Loveng participated in the sports and entertainment marketing category.

Both O’Dell and Loveng had to complete a 100-question examination and then complete two role-playing business scenarios where they had 10 minutes to solve a problem.

O’Dell had to argue that a daycare center was a worthy addition to a grocery story. Then she also had to come up with ways to promote a grocery store in the face of new competition.

Loveng’s scenario consisted of working to pass legislation for a stadium in a small town. She also had to come up with a public relations plan to deal with an incident where a baseball player from a minor league team attacked a fan.

As for Leahy, she teamed up with O’Dell to compete in a virtual business challenge where they competed against groups from Nevada, Oregon, Wyoming and Montana.

The challenge called for Leahy and O’Dell to manage an online convenience store. They had to manage staffing, develop promotions and control merchandise. The duo earned first place in the regional challenge.

The National DECA competition takes place April 27 through May 2. The students have already taken care of their fund-raising needed to pay for the competition. The student store, which is operated by DECA students, funds the group’s activities. Loveng, O’Dell and Leahy spend part of their school day working in the student store.

They are also thinking about life after high school.

Leahy, who graduates in June, is heading to Ohio State University where she is planning to major in business.

O’Dell and Loveng have some time to decide where they are going to college. Loveng wants to attend the University of Washington and study business law. O’Dell hasn’t decided where she will go to school but she wants to study marketing or business management.