Hillsboro-Deering High School DECA students learned about the digital business world first hand as 21 of them had great success at the recent Virtual ew Hampshire DECA 64th Annual Career Development Conference. The competition was held during the weeks of Feb. 8 and 15, with most events taking place on February 10.
The team included Chloe Braun, Jaedin Chacos, Owen Coombs, Emma Curley, Emma Davison, Kaylea Davison, Hannah Edwards, Emily Ferguson, Serena Havunen, Serenedy Kelley, Greg LeBlanc, Alexis Ledvina, Madison Ledvina, Nathaniel Ledvina, Cassidy Marshall, Alexis McClure, Kimberly Nadeau, Kelsey Powell, Irena Rose, Rachel VanOlmen, and Emily Wilkens.
Out of the 21 students who attended, the team earned two chapter trophies, several medals and multiple plaques. It was a difficult year for students to compete as they had to prepare video presentations to be shared via YouTube with a judge, rather than interact personally with the judge. Still, the team did well. Sophomore Hannah Edwards was elected to state office. Combined with the chapter’s Virtual Business Retail team, every competing member was able to qualify and will be competing at the Virtual International Career Development Conference this April.
Students won accolades in several events including Apparel & Accessories Marketing, Marketing Communications, Accounting, Professional Selling, Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling, Independent Business Plan, Entrepreneurship, Restaurant and Food Service Management, and Financial Consulting. Many other individual accomplishments were awarded to the students in the chapter. The chapter itself was recognized for reaching the Thrive level of accomplishment by DECA Inc., and for reaching the Outstanding Chapter level by New Hampshire DECA.
“Even in the pandemic, and with the knowledge that there is no traveling this year, our students still recognized and worked hard to win their events. Students received an appointment, showed up professionally for that appointment and accomplished a task within a specific time frame. This was competency in action. I am very proud of them,” said Marc Payeur, the Hillsboro-Deering DECA advisor.