GI hosts DECA competition

Grand Island Dispatch, January 18, 2008

Pictured above, from left, are Grand Island students Courtney and Brittany Papaj and Tiffani Dickinson. Courtney and Brittany won in the job interview portion of the DECA Regional, while Tiffani won in visual advertising. The DECA Regional competition drew more than 500 students from around the Niagara Frontier for competition in 29 different business-related events.

School buses from eight neighboring districts dropped students off to Grand Island High School bright and early Sunday morning, Jan. 13, for the annual Region 12 DECA Club competition. The day began with a breakfast welcome. Then students and judges headed for various locations through the high school and middle school for team and individual contests in 29 different business events in areas such as business law, financial analysis, quick serve restaurant management, hotel and lodging management and sports and entertainment management.

Business and community leaders act as judges for these events and their continued support of DECA enables students to prepare for their future careers.

Interest and membership in the Grand Island High School DECA Club has grown tremendously over the past few years. DECA stands for Distributive Education Clubs of America and exists nationwide with a membership of more than 100,000. It is a co-curricular club for juniors and seniors who are also enrolled in business courses at their respective high schools or colleges. Grand Island business teacher Cheryl Chamberlain, who oversees the local club throughout the year, coordinated Sunday’s competition and will be accompanying winners to the DECA New York State competition in Rochester in March.

Above, Ciara Morreale of Grand Island took first place in the Apparel and Accessories portion of the DECA Regional competition this weekend at Grand Island High School.

DECA’s Web site and other literature stresses the organization’s goal of developing leadership, marketing savvy and entrepreneurial skills in its members with an extra focus on social and business etiquette, understanding the free market system and adhering to ethical business standards. All mentors are volunteers from the business community, and the organization is not for profit.

Grand Island students placed well in Sunday’s regionals, taking home trophies awarded to them in a ceremony Sunday afternoon in the high school auditorium.

Grand Island had 53 students competing, with at least 11 qualifying for state competition.

The other high schools in the contests were West Seneca West, West Seneca East, Lancaster, Williamsville North, Williamsville South, Lewiston-Porter, North Tonawanda and Hamburg.

The GI DECA contingent acknowledged Tops Markets and Grand Island High School’s Audio Visual Department for their support and assistance.

For more information on how to join DECA, call the GIHS Business Department at 773-8879.