The Bourne High School DECA Chapter, now in its second year, participated in the District 8 DECA Competition held at the Emerald Resort & Conference Center in Hyannis on Jan. 9. The competition drew 850 participants, including 62 from Bourne High School. (Photo courtesy Bourne Public Schools)
BOURNE — In just its second year of existence, the Bourne High School DECA Chapter is making waves in the world of business competitions. Several team members placed at the District 8 DECA Competition held on Jan. 9.
This year’s District 8 competition was held at the Emerald Resort & Conference Center in Hyannis. It attracted 850 participants in total, including 62 students from Bourne High School.
The students showcased their skills in various categories: marketing, finance, entrepreneurship, hospitality, and business administration. The district competition results reflect the dedication and talent of Bourne High’s growing chapter.
“Our students’ performance at the District competition is a testament to the hard work, perseverance, and commitment they’ve shown in the classroom and beyond,” said Monice Maurice, business teacher and DECA advisor at Bourne High School. “We are incredibly proud of all the students who competed and earned recognition, and we are excited for what lies ahead at the upcoming state competition.”
Key results from the District 8 event include:
- Malachi Coelho placed 2nd overall in Principles of Business Management.
- Taylor Sage earned 2nd place overall in the Automotive Management Series, with a 3rd place medallion in role play.
- Rees Jones secured 2nd place overall in the Marketing Communication Series, with a 1st-place medallion in role-play and 3rd place in both the exam and another role-play.
- Dhyan Patel earned 3rd place overall in the Retail Management Series, and Olivia Ruginski earned a 2nd-place medallion in role-play for Principles of Marketing.
In addition to individual accolades, Bourne High School students excelled in Team Decision-Making events, with notable performances from the Sports & Entertainment Team Decision-Making teams led by Lily Russell and Sofia Halunen, who finished in 3rd place overall.
The members of the Bourne High School DECA Chapter are now preparing for the Massachusetts DECA State Career Development Conference and Competition, which will be held Feb. 27-28 at the Westin Boston Seaport and Boston Convention & Exhibit Center. There, they will compete for a chance to represent Massachusetts later this year at the DECA International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Florida.
In addition to the above award winners, several other members of the Bourne High School DECA Chapter are also moving on to the state competition, including:
- Muskan Patel and Alexandra Stowe for their Integrated Marketing Campaign Event with Big Nick’s Ride.
- Emery Robbins for his Entrepreneurship Business Growth Plan with his brand, Lenni.
- Joziah DeSouza for his Financial Consulting Event, working with his financial management mentor on advising NIL recipients.
- JT Luce for finishing in 3rd place overall for Business Service Marketing.
- Lily Russell and Sofia Halunen for their 3rd place overall finish for Sports & Entertainment Team Decision Making.
- Abigail Rodrigues for finishing in 4th place overall in Principles of Entrepreneurship.
- Declan McDermott for finishing 5th place overall for Principles of Finance.
The Bourne High School DECA Chapter and its advisor, Monice Maurice, also express their continued gratitude for the support of the Nye Grant and its board of trustees, whose funding helps to make these transformative experiences possible for students.
“Thank you to Patti Parker and the Nye Grant for their continued support, as well as our dedicated volunteers and chaperones who helped ensure a smooth experience for the students,” Maurice said. “Without their support, these opportunities would not be possible.”
Bourne High School’s DECA program, still in its infancy, is already having a profound impact on the students involved. It offers them real-world experience and helps them build valuable leadership and professional skills.
“We are thrilled to see how far the DECA program has come in just its second year,” said Superintendent Dr. Quinlan-Zhou. “The students are really excelling, and we look forward to continued success at the State level.”
For more information about DECA and how you can get involved in supporting Bourne High School’s DECA program, please reach out to advisor Monice Maurice at mmaurice@bourneps.org.
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The Bourne High School DECA Chapter, now in its second year, participated in the District 8 DECA Competition held at the Emerald Resort & Conference Center in Hyannis on Jan. 9. The competition drew 850 participants, including 62 from Bourne High School. (Photo courtesy Bourne Public Schools)
Several members of the Bourne High School DECA Chapter finished on the podium with top three finishes in various categories as part of the District 8 DECA Competition held at the Emerald Resort & Conference Center in Hyannis on Jan. 9. (Photo courtesy Bourne Public Schools)