West Ashley HS DECA Team Advances to Nationals in Nashville, TN
The West Ashley High School DECA Club competed at the DECA State Career Conference at the North Charleston Coliseum February 26th. Twelve members placed in the top ten and three members placed in the top three.
The West Ashley High School DECA Club is advised by Marketing teacher, Terry Stutts, and is run by a team of five student members. DECA is designed to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management.
High school DECA members from all over South Carolina were invited to compete in the DECA State Career Conference with members from each team competing in various categories. DECA’s evaluation process involves students in both a written component such as an exam or report and an interactive component where an industry professional serves as a judge.During the interactive component, members are presented with a real-world problem and given 10 minutes to come up with a solution which they in turn present to the judge. The objective is to be one of the top three finishers in order to qualify for the next level of competition.
Senior Ashante Edwards placed first in the Apparel and Accessories Marketing category.
Senior Ashante Edwards placed first in the category Apparel and Accessories
Marketing and will advance to compete at the International Career Development
Conference (ICDC) in April.
The following WAHS students were placed in the top 3 in their respective categories, earning a trip to nationals also:
- WAHS Senior Liam Wheless, Retail Merchandising
- WAHS Freshman Lupe Chaves, Principles of Hospitality and Tourism
- WAHS Sophomore Rodney Graham, Principles of Business Management and Administration
Liam Wheless placed third in the category Retail Merchandising. This is Wheless’ fourth year as a part of DECA and his first year serving as club president.
Freshman Lupe Chaves placed third in the category Principles of Hospitality and
Tourism.
Rodney Graham placed third in the category Principles of Business Management and Administration, which will allow him the opportunity to advance to compete at ICDC in April.
These members qualified to compete in the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Nashville, Tennessee April 23rd. The categories will be the same, but instead of just competing against other high schools in South Carolina, West Ashley High DECA members will compete against DECA members from across the nation.
DECA members Alexis Holmes, Amanda Bennett, Victoria Singleton, and DaMya Brown dressed in their professional best and were ready to face the competition!
Amanda Bennett, Kelly Cochran, and Haley Bauer competed in the DECA State Career Conference February 26th -28th at the North Charleston Coliseum.
Brain Hawkins and Katlyn Clark placed in the Top 10 in their categories.
Story by Donnie Newton, WAHS Public Relations Coordinator
