On January 4, over 100 students from Mattituck High School attended the regional Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) competition at Suffolk County Community College’s Selden campus. Of the 2,000 students who competed at the event, 25 from Mattituck are now eligible to advance to the state competition in Rochester, New York in March.
DECA is a competitive business and marketing club for students interested in pursuing a career in business, marketing or entrepreneurship.
Mattituck’s DECA advisor, LuAnn Nappe, sees it as a great way for students to acquire skills that will be invaluable to them as they move into the work force.
“Students compete against each other in role playing job interviews, trying to sell a product in a sales demo; others take marketing exams as their competition. It’s a great way to learn life skills, not just for the business world but in general. They learn how to dress, how to speak properly in front of adults. Its a great thing for these kids to have.”
In addition to the skills they learn by participating in DECA, students also are eligible for scholarships.
“It’s a win-win situation for them,” says Nappe.
Trophy Winners:
Sean Gambaiani and Christopher Waggoner – Buying & Merchandising Team Event
Goksel Zaim and Christopher Imbriano – Financial Services Team Event
Jane DiGregorio and Elizabeth Dwyer – Marketing Management Team Event
Cassidy Mullin – Accounting Applications
Ryan Buchholz – Automotive Services Marketing
Cheyenne Harris – Food Marketing
Mackenzie Daly – Human Resources Management
Eshi Baldano – Human Resources Management
Lilly Russell – Quick Serve Restaurant Management
Charlie Bordsen – Restaurant & Food Service Management
Shannon Massey – Retail Merchandising
Joseph Stuckart – Sports & Entertainment Marketing
Rebecca Foster – Job Interview
Colette Kodym – Decision Making – Marketing
1st Place Winners:
Carter Montgomery – Sales Demonstration
Colleen Kelly – Decision Making – Marketing
Joy Davis – Wholesale Selling
Antonio Marine – Basic Marketing
2nd Place Winners:
Tyler Seifert – Food Marketing
Alex Bellavia – Public Speaking – Prepared
Justin McKinney – Wholesale Selling
3rd Place Winner
Brendan Kent – Basic Marketing
Amy Li Berninger – Food Marketing
