DECA competitors from VTHS head for Nationals as they topple their competition

VERNON — Vernon DECA traveled to the Cherry Hill Crowne Plaza on Feb. 27, to compete in New Jersey DECA’s State Career Development Conference.

Of the 84 students who attended the event, Vernon DECA had a total of 11 students finish in the top three of their respective events, receiving themselves an invitation to the International Career Development Conference in Anaheim, Cali. at the end of April.

These students are as follows:
First Place — Shivam Desai: Principles of Finance.

First Place — Danielle Struble and Marissa DeCaro: Financial Literacy Promotion Plan.

First Place — Kerolos Mikaeil and John Lipari: Entrepreneurship-Growing Your Business.

Third Place — Deanna Tornatore and Micayla Wynn: Entrepreneurship Promotion Plan.

Third Place — Catherine O’Shea and Cassandra Sofis: Learn and Earn Project.

Third Place — Kristi DiZenzo and Sarah Waleck: Sports and Entertainments Operations Research.

Other students finished as finalists in their individual, team or chapter events. They were given medals for their performance and acknowledged on stage. These students are as follows:

Simon Gehrig: Principles of Business Management and Administration.

Christina Comizio: Principles of Finance.

Douglas Stengel: Food Marketing Series.

Clara Mikaeil: Quick Serve Restaurant Management Series.

Jenna Monid: Restaurant and Food Management Series.

Marissa DeCaro: Restaurant and Food Management Series.

Mary Spardel: Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling Event.

Drew Mautz and Melanie New: Financial Services Team Decision Making.

Sydney Grosser and Victoria Halpin: Creative Marketing Project.

Deanna Tornatore and Melissa Miller: Finance Operations Research.

Kaitlyn Porter and Daisy Williams: Entrepreneurship Innovation Plan.

Paige Wiseman: Entrepreneurship Participating-Creating an Independent Business.

Next, students were recognized during an awards ceremony for outstanding achievement through single elements of their events. Each student completed a 100-question exam in one of four clusters (Marketing, Finance, Hospitality & Tourism, and Business Management & Administration) as well as either one or two Role Play scenarios. These students are as follows:

Role Play — Erin Molloy: Accounting Application Series.

Role Play — Micayla Wynn: Business Finance Series.

Test — Kerolos Mikaeil: Financial Services Team Decision Making.

Role Play — Clara Mikaeil: Quick Serve Restaurant Management Series.

Test — Dylan DiMartino: Principles of Finance.

Role Play­ — Shivam Desai: Principles of Finance.

Role Play — Jenna Monid: Restaurant and Food Management Series.

Role Play — Marissa DeCaro: Restaurant and Food Management Series.

Vernon DECA received two additional awards this year as well.

Micayla Wynn, President of Vernon DECA, was the recipient of a $1,000 Northern Regional Scholarship. Micayla plans to major in both Dance and Business in college.

The Vernon DECA Chapter was recognized for its benevolence in the NJ DECA Food For Thought Project. In meeting a criterion of fundraising, Vernon DECA played a role in contributing $20,290 to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. To represent our chapters participation in the leadership academy in Aneheim students Genna DeRosa and Alexandra Capuano will participate.