Cranford HS DECA Excels at Regional Conference

Cranford High School Students impressed us once again with 55 DECA members advancing for their business events at the Regional DECA Competition on Jan. 9, 2014 at Middlesex County College.

This made them not only eligible to compete in the New Jersey DECA Leadership Conference in Cherry Hill, NJ on March 14-16, but also marked another milestone for Cranford’s DECA Chapter with membership at an all-time high of 146 members and a record-topping 55 delegates advancing to the State level.

The DECA Program is aimed at helping students prepare for business careers. The program, an association of marketing students, builds self-esteem and leadership skills, and teaches students to practice community service. The students are advised by Business Management teachers Donna Cathcart and Cynthia Keyasko.

Of the 55 students to advance, five received first place, six received second place, and seven received third place awards.  In addition, 37 delegates placed in the top ten of their business specialties. For the competition, each student completed a one-hour written test focused on their area of interest — then read, prepared for, and executed role-play scenarios.  Business, marketing, and accounting professionals served as judges for more than 1,200 students attending the regional competition from across central New Jersey.  

Coming in first place were Catherine Miller for Food Marketing, Samuel Grossman in Human Resource Management, Dan Cagney in Principles of Business Management, Elizabeth DiTripani in Principles of Finance, and Rachael White in Retail Merchandising. 

Placing second were Annie Bryant for Apparel and Accessories Marketing, Joseph Tobin in Accounting, Allison Verilli in Human Resource Management, Vienna Stivala in Human Resource Management, and Kelly Schoustra in Quick-Serve Marketing.

Placing third are the team of Kyle LaFronz and Adam Solomon in Marketing Communications, Greg Reilly in Principles of Finance, Olivia DelVecchio in Quick-Serve Marketing, and James Campbell in Sports  and Entertainment Marketing.

The following students are also to be commended for placing in the top 10 of their events:  Victoria Herlocher, Nina Natividad, Matthew Mustillo, Jake Steele, Lucas Jayne, Brendan Brightman, William Budries, Justin Bakie, Vincent Papandrea, Kelly Drake, Alex Levy, Beth Armstrong, Miranda Brown, Natalie Salinardo, Kerry Wischusen, Kyle Mallon, William Pritchett, Anthony Vultaggio, Jack McCaffrey, Maxim Mallick, Jillian Walter, Jason Cabrita, David Debole, Matthew Orsini, Eric James, Claire Drewniak, Jillian DeVoti, Sara Ross, Grace Chen, Kevin Sczech, Matthew Wise, Sean Halpin, Peter Strotz, Katie Waldner, Nicole Schimmenti, and John DeVoti.   

Congratulations to all Cranford High School students on a job well done!

Article written by: Donna Cathcart, DECA Advisor