DECA triumphs at the state competition
Nine participants will head to California for marketing Nationals
Reigning State champions, nine DECA members are now taking their business skills to sunny California, where they will be competing on the international level.
DECA, once a national association of marketing students and now an international association is the practical application of what has been learned in marketing classes.
“We competed in the category Hospitality and Tourism,” said senior Heidi Abou-Ghayda, who has been participating in DECA since her freshman year. This year, however, is her first time making it past the state level.
As a competitor, Abou-Ghayda and her peers were required to prepare a 30 page business plan concerning the Hospitality and Tourism cluster—focused on services in hotels, restaurants, and tourism and travel—and a presentation to be given as part of the competition. In addition to prior preparation, they were required to hone their skills in role-play, a situation in which students are given only ten minutes to prepare.
WS DECA took first place this year at States and is moving on to the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Anaheim, California, taking place this April from the 24th to the 27th. For many, this is the first time competing on the national level. There, they will be up against fourteen thousand other high school students, advisors, businesspersons, and alumni for several days.
The excitement of the competition, however, is not the sole motivation for joining DECA. Skills learned in both Marketing class and the club can help in future careers by providing students with confidence.
“DECA helps me learn professional skills and be involved in any job in the future,” said senior Hozaifa Anjum.
While DECA can help students develop skills used in any professional setting, participants find themselves leaning towards business and economics as subjects to study in college. Abou-Ghayda aspires to study business. Another member, junior Cole Rosenberger, plans to major in Economics when he is in college. While this may seem a long time away for Rosenberger, who has been an officer since his sophomore year, any experience is an advantage.
“It’s really hard to be in a business class and you need to have hands on experience,” said Rosenberger, “[Participating in DECA] gives you an edge.”
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