Jul 28, 2026
On November 12th, Central Decatur High School business students traveled to Graceland University to participate in the annual Graceland Business Simulation. The event brought together more than 500 business and FFA students from across the region for a full day of hands-on entrepreneurship, teamwork, and competition.
Students were mixed into teams of four with peers from other schools and given a creative challenge: design an “Alien Invasion Defense Mechanism”. Each team was allotted $100 in fake money to purchase materials such as rubber bands, plastic spoons, clothespins, and popsicle sticks. After budgeting carefully, teams constructed a prototype, developed a marketing plan, created financial statements, and delivered a Shark Tank–style pitch in a boardroom setting to business faculty and college student judges.
Each student then took on a sales role, preparing a marketing display and producing multiple copies of their prototype to sell to FFA students attending a separate event on campus. This hands-on marketplace experience challenged students to apply pricing strategies, communication skills, and persuasive sales techniques in real time.
For the second year in a row, the CD Business Department celebrated a top finish. Ayden Folkes was part of the winning Marketing Team, earning a $40 prize and a recognition certificate. Every participant also returned home with a new T-shirt.
Throughout the day, the CD students proudly represented the RED Way—shaking hands, thanking faculty, and even staying after the event to help clean up the auditorium before boarding the bus. Way to go, Cardinals!
