On Sunday, Feb. 23, seven Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) members came home from a state competition adorned with medals and trophies. Members of DECA competed against 5300 other students at the state level of competition.
“It has been a true honor to help develop these wonderful students into the winners that I knew they all could become,” DECA advisor and marketing teacher, Everett Johnson said.
Mercy Adu qualified, and will compete at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in April alongside the rest of the international qualifiers, including students across the United States, as well as Canada. Adu placed very high in her section at State Career Development Conference (CDC) which qualified her to compete internationally. During her event, Restaurant and Food Service Management Series, Adu role-played a given scenario and had to come up with the best solution.
“If you have great ideas, you have to learn how to say them well,” Adu said. “It’s not enough enough just to have great ideas, you have to learn how to present them well.”
After placing well at the district level of competition, Mercy Adu, Brooke Rowland, Chrisna Tamak, Peace Adu, Grace Adu, Isabella Murphy, and Clementine Beia competed at the state conference. DECA, formally Distributive Education Clubs of America, is a non-profit career and technical student organization. Students in DECA competes in events in entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, hospitality, and management.
“DECA has taught me to not be afraid to put myself out there and to be confident and resilient when I want something,” Beia said. “DECA is literally why I am not afraid of speaking up for myself and be a leader.”
Adding to the list of achievements, Johnson also received an award for being a DECA adviser for 25 years.
DECA provides students with multiple opportunities to go into the world of business and marketing and make connections, all the while having fun. Students get to compete in events that could help them visualize their future careers and the possible pathways they wish to pursue later in life. Members even have scholarship opportunities within DECA.
The following list portrays what events the Falcons in DECA competed in at the State CDC:
Grace Adu- Hotel and Lodging Management Series
Mercy Adu- Restaurant and Food Service Management Series
Peace Adu- Principles of Hospitality and Tourism
Clementine Beia- Entrepreneurship Innovation Plan
Isabella Murphy- Entrepreneurship Innovation Plan
Brooke Rowland- Entrepreneurship Innovation Plan
Chrisna Tamak- Principles of Marketing
Congratulations to these students for all the hard work they’ve put into their events.