DECA hosted their annual district awards ceremony for members after school on Thurs., Jan. 15, in the auditorium. There, members found out if they qualify for the DECA state competition.
DECA is a series of business-focused competitions for high school and college students. DECA students can take tests or make presentations that focus on different aspects of business, such as marketing, finance or entrepreneurship.
The ceremony, which took place from 2:40-5:30 p.m., consisted of a livestream of the awards. Each event was alphabetically announced, with the top 15 names for each event displayed on the screen and the top three names for each event announced immediately after.
Students who were in the top 15 were awarded a medal, while students who earned third, second or first place were awarded a glass trophy. More than 100 students placed.
Among those who placed were junior Gabriel Feijao and senior Ella Li, who were awarded third and second place, respectively, in the Financial Consulting category.
“The thing that I am most excited for this year at states is meet[ing] new people,” senior Omer Bishri said. “When I went last year, I got to make so many new friends, so I want to experience that again.
Those who were not part of the top 15 automatically became alternates. If one person who won decided to drop their event an alternate would replace them and get the opportunity to go to states.
Members who completed a 20-page paper were not told their results at the ceremony. Instead, they were told the following weekend.
After the awards ceremony, the club officers passed out pizza in the courtyard, where all members celebrated the club’s accomplishments.
“Seeing my close friends, officer members and peers finally get recognized for all their hard work makes me feel proud of the community I am a part of,” junior and historian Connie Chao said. “Not only was I able to be there and celebrate their wins and capture this wonderful moment but I was also able to celebrate this with DECA as a team.”
DECA students enjoyed their time at the district awards ceremony, and members are ready to go to DECA states, which will take place in Orlando in March.
