Superintendent Pam Beaudoin and Principal Julie Sgroi are pleased to share that Manchester Essex Regional High School (MERHS) students in the DECA chapter achieved strong results at the State Competition.
On Feb. 27 and March 1, MERHS’ Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) chapter competed in the Massachusetts DECA State Career Development Conference in Boston.
DECA is a nonprofit that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management and now has more than 260,000 members in 4,000 high school and college chapters in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Germany.
Seven students were named state champion in their respective division, earning them a bid to compete at the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Fla.
State Champions are:
- Charlotte Crocker and Ella Arntsen — Innovation Plan
- Connor Dickson — Restaraunt and Food Service Management
- Jack McCavanaugh and Jake Zschau — Sports and Entertainment Marketing
- Alex Hatfield and Ben Reubens — Finanical Services
Five students were also named finalists in their categories and have a chance to be selected to compete at the International Conference. Those students are:
- Alex Montaresi — Principles of Entrepreneurship
- Rachel Gallant — Principles of Hospitality and Tourism
- Leigha Akerley and Talya Erdogan — Buying and Merchandising
- Adam Macleod — Automotive Services Marketing
The chapter is advised by MERHS business educator Barrett Alston.
“The state conference was an amazing opportunity for our students to demonstrate their talents,” said Allston. “These students have so much to be proud of, and I am excited for them to continue to flourish.”
Alston would like to thank volunteer chaperones Alicen Shaw, Lauren Woodcock, Sam Pindara, Matt Tangney, and Robbie Bilsbury for their support in making sure the conference went well for students.
“The achievements of our DECA chapter is a culmination of the efforts of our students and educators, who have invested themselves in this valuable experience and pushed themselves and their peers to succeed,” said Principal Sgroi. “I congratulate our DECA chapter on their accomplishments. We are proud to have them represent MERHS at the international conference.”
“DECA is a respected international program that allows students to develop a sense of business education and entrepreneurship and grow significantly in those fields at an early age,” said Superintendent Beaudoin. “We are proud to see our students be rewarded for pushing themselves academically, and we are excited to continue to watch our DECA chapter flourish.”
