HHS DECA students prepared for District competition to be held January 16. Participating students took online tests on January 10. These scores were to be calculated with role-play scores to advance to the state competition. Due to inclement weather, DECA students were unable to attend the District Career Development Conference at Union University on January 16, however, through test scores alone, 10 local students qualified for the DECA State Conference that will be held March 8-10 at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

HHS qualifiers include:  Bendy Yuan-Zhao and Leslie Fox – second in Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making, Ann-Wesley Banks and Chaoyue Yuan – second in Travel and Tourism TDM, Riley Simmons and Brierra Starks – third in Financial Services TDM, Elizabeth Kirby and Molly McCage – third in Business Law and Ethics TDM, Drevion Tyus – fourth in Principles of Finance, Trey Cunningham – fifth in Principles of Business Management and Administration, and Alex Sceals – fifth in Business Finance Series. Other local members progressing to the state competition in Chattanooga with written project events include: Sujey Gaspar, Dominic Gaietto, and Acayla Palmer – Public Relations Project, Riley Barr and Rebecca Davis – Start-Up Business Plan, Breyden Mora, Preston Moore, Brandon Cantu – Innovation Plan, and Collin Shaw and Mia Gaietto – Advertising Campaign. Julie Davis is the HHS business teacher and sponsor for the DECA club.

About DECA

DECA is an international organization for high school and college students interested in business and marketing.  DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.  They emphasize competence, innovation, integrity and teamwork.