WHITMAN — Superintendent Jeffrey Szymaniak and DECA coordinators Nina Consolini and Tom DeSantes are pleased to announce that Whitman-Hanson DECA has qualified 11 students for the Massachusetts DECA State Conference next month.
This year, the DECA District 1 Conference was held virtually, and students had to select a competition category to enter into before taking an online test and completing a virtual role play scenario. An online award show highlighted the results for those teams that competed.
Any student who finished in the top four of their category qualified for the Massachusetts DECA State Conference, which will be held virtually from Feb. 25-27.
“We are proud of the effort that these students have made working in a virtual setting to accomplish a great goal,” Superintendent Szymaniak said. “They have represented our school community very well so far, and we all are excited to see their accomplishments at the state level.”
The following is a list of the Whitman-Hanson students who qualified (including category and place) who will represent the school at the state conference:
- Nicole Donato, principles of finance, first
- Avery Murray, business finance, first
- Abigail Delory, marketing communications, first
- Aidan Miller, business finance, second
- Abigail Dernier, principles of business management, second
- Julia Benvie and Delanie MacDonald, entrepreneurship team event, second
- Anna Williams, principles of personal finance, second
- Bridget Hickey, apparel and accessories marketing, fourth
- Ezzat Haboub and Aidan Hickey, sports and entertainment team event, fourth
In addition to these participants, two students also received the highest scores on their exams at the conference. The two students are:
- Avery Murray, finance cluster exam
- Abigail Delory, marketing cluster exam
Students have already started to see the many ways DECA has helped prepare them for the future.
“DECA has helped prepare me for my future because it has prepared me to have the abilities to hold a professional conversation and grant me with the communications skills that I will need to be successful in my future,” said Anna Williams, a four-year member and three year officer with DECA. “My role play this year for my category of Personal Financial Literacy was about credit, credit score, and stating why you should avoid the use of credit. My favorite experience at DECA was at our regional competition last year where all the kids were bonding and having fun with the teachers. It just felt so great to get to know our advisors on a more personal level.”
Leading up to the State Conference, students are looking back on their time with DECA fondly.
“After just one year, DECA helped me realize what I wanted to do for a career and how focusing on business could let me do that,” said three-year Whitman-Hanson DECA member Bridget Hickey. “In my next two years, I focused on achieving that dream, and I leave as a senior with communication skills, my dream college, and the confidence to pursue my future.”
“DECA has not only taught me so much about the business world, but it has also helped me with more general skills like communication and problem solving,” said fellow member Abigail Delory. “The knowledge I’ve picked up and the fun I’ve had attending conferences has made the experience very worthwhile and memorable.”
DECA is a high school business and marketing organization that prepares young leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. To learn more, click here.
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