This year, DECA had eighty-three students travel to Greensboro, NC from February 26th to February 28th to compete for a spot at ICDC in Atlanta GA this April. Kari Babson, DECA advisor, believes that students are receiving an amazing opportunity when attending DECA.

“They’re able to break out of Brunswick County for a minute and have a good time.” says Babson, “They also learn different skills such as public speaking, thinking on the fly, and can attend leadership workshops to network with other students.”

DECA is the Distributive Education Clubs of America. This club was made to help students prepare themselves to become leaders in specific careers. Those careers could include things in marketing, hospitality, finance, or management. You can learn great social skills and it is a very good opportunity for any student. This club may sound very intimidating but overall it is very enjoyable and useful.

“Attending states was really fun, and I felt really intrigued with the business and interviewing,” said sophomore Marina Stathos, “I was really engaged with my peers and I had a very good overall experience.”

Although students competed in multiple events, attended educational workshops, and advanced their professional skills, they still had time to have fun and create peers across North Carolina. The DECA leaders made sure to create an overall entertaining environment and experience for everyone present. The workshops had fun factors as well as educational. During free time students had the opportunity to hang out with friends, go get food, or even go to the mall right next door. 

“I am really proud of all of our students at the state DECA conference,” said DECA advisor/ Sports and Event Marketing teacher, Olivia Fluharty. “We received some amazing awards and definitely put West Brunswick on the map.”

Eighty-three students attended DECA States this year, which is thirty-two more students than the previous year. Eleven of our students out of sixty-two hundred have secured a spot to travel to Atlanta GA to compete at ICDC. ICDC is the DECA International Career Development Conference. Having this many students attend was a huge accomplishment for our school.  

“I didn’t expect it and originally didn’t know what was going on,” says senior Kyle McCoy, “It was shocking and euphoric, but also validating because of the work I’ve put into WBHS DECA over the last four years.”

Kyle McCoy, the president of the WBHS chapter, won a fifty-thousand dollar top DECA scholarship to put towards any college he wishes to attend. Along with that amazing award, McCoy and Tucker Hamilton won first place in their event of Financial Services Team Decision Making. Sending them both to compete at ICDC along with nine of our other students.

Our other glass winners are:

• Kailyn Gore who won first place in the event Principles of Business Management
• Kylee Blum who won second place in the event Principles of Business Management 
• Madison Richardson who placed third in the event of Sports and Entertainment Marketing
• Irving DecenaCarvajal and Kayley Arevalo took fourth place in Hospitality Services Team Decision Making
• Connor Wilkerson and CJ Nelson took sixth place in Business Law & Ethics Team Decision Making
• Bradley Cheers and Camden Greensfelder placed seventh in the event of Sports & Entertainment Marketing Team Decision Making

Therefore, DECA is an amazing club to seek advancement in professional aspects, socialization, and communication skills. Everyone who joins and attends DECA has a great time and continues to grow and learn. We wish the best of luck to all students who are preparing to attend ICDC this April and compete against others on a national level.