Smithtown High School East & West DECA (DECA – A National Marketing Association) completed its best ever results at the recent State Championship Conference in Rochester. Over half the students received recognition with four first in the state recognition. With their phenomenal performance, 28 students will represent Smithtown at the International Conference to be held in Anaheim, California beginning on April 29th.
When the buses left the school, the students and advisors, Cindy Wood and Phil Como – West and Christine LoFrese and Matt Hennings – East were optimistic about DECA’s chances at the State Competitions. The students worked with business people from the Industry Advisory Board, School of Business teachers and each other to prepare for this year’s State competition.
Four Smithtown East DECA students, Caitlin Ziegler, Ben Lynn, Chris Giamanco and Mike Porter were inducted into the New York State DECA Honor Society (photo below). Smithtown West DECA student, Dan Vrana, was the winner of the New York State DECA T-Shirt Contest.
The three day competition marked the best showing for the Smithtown DECA Chapters. In addition to the competitive medals, Smithtown DECA East & West were recognized for Chapter Enrollment Increase and Community Service Recognitions. Smithtown West DECA received recognition for the largest donation in the state for the 2009 New York State Charity – Autism Speaks. This charity was chosen by New York State DECA as the recipient of the state chapters’ fundraising efforts this year.
The three day competition engages students in many different business scenarios. Students engage in various competitions, ranging from written tests to role plays where students take on the part of a business owner, a vendor, or other business. Judges rate the participants on content, professional, presentation and business acumen. Some of the categories include Accounting, Business Law, Finance, Public Speaking, Sales Demo, Visual Advertising, Hospitality, Travel and Tourism, Food Marketing, General Marketing, Retail Merchandising and Sports Marketing. “The Smithtown School of Business department has always geared our students to real life situations. From our Industry Advisory Board, to innovative programs, we prepare our students for many different pathways. I am very proud of the work our students have done and I applaud the advisors for working so diligently with our students,” said Sherrion Elmore, Chairperson of the Career and Technical Education Department.
Smithtown DECA will be represented by 28 students at the International Career Conference in Anaheim. The students who attained this honor include – EAST : Brian Read, Taylor Zografakis, Patrick Kelly, Chris Giamanco, Tyler Kraese, Dan Maitles, Lyndsey Kaplan, Katherine Connor, Meagan Voulo, Lauren Thomassen, Taylor Hoffman, Caitlin Ziegler, Gabriella Sehne, Cristina Capone and Ryan Locks. WEST: Natasha Mitchko, Reena Glaser, Jacob Wirth, Andrew Jarrah, Joseph Arias, Bryan Kane, Tom Kirnbauer, Lauren Baruch, Connor Levens, Dan Vrana, Matt Thogersen, Ken Anthony-Scaturro and Steve Gardella (pictures below). The students will compete against the winner in other state competitions, and other international chapters.
