DECA prepares for competition
Juniors Matthew Isakson and Stephanie Hong practice their role play for a classroom assignment. Each role play covers different categories of marketing such as Business Law and Ethics and Restaurant Service. At competitions students present their role-plays to a judge in hopes of advancing to the international competition in spring. Photo courtesy of Yasmine Guedira.
In a class that combines real-life experience and professionalism students learn to expand their horizons to prepare for the professional world.
“DECA gives me a lot of experience that I will be able to use later in life no matter what I do. DECA is great because it has something for everyone, from Sports Marketing to Accounting,” said Sarah Abraham, 11.
DECA´s mission is to ¨prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.”
Sycamore DECA is one of the largest co-curricular activities with 120 people, and it is the second biggest chapter in the state of Ohio. In 2015 the SHS DECA chapter won best DECA chapter in Ohio.
“In class we practice a lot in impromptu role plays where we take the role of promotional committees and pitch our ideas to our teacher, just like we will do in competition,” said Matthew Isakson, 11.
DECA’s first competition at the district level with take place in December. Afterwards, students will advance to the state level in Columbus to compete against schools all over the state.
The students that place in the top four in their event will advance to the International Level in Anaheim, California. This competition has students from Canada, Mexico, Spain and other countries across the globe.
“In DECA we can think of creative solutions to the problems that consumers and sellers face. Marketing is such a good skill to be able to have,” said Stephanie Hong, 11.
