Kirkland residents Mary Claire Squires and Amanda Johnson placed in the top ten during the international DECA competition for advertising in Washington, DC on April 26.

The Juanita High School graduates represented Gonzaga University. Both women were active at DECA while attending Juanita High School and continued at Gonzaga University in Spokane. Their particular advertising campaign focused on Tim’s Cascade Style Potato Chips.

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. They placed first in advertising category early this year in Seattle and then were eligible to go to the international competition in Washington, DC.