Pottstown DECA Starts 2015 With Winning Ways

Pottstown's DECA participants were, from left, first Row: Benjamin Habekost, Yuliza Cruz, Rashell Williams, Sara Levengood, Allison Ludwig, Rachael Levengood, Julia Day, Ashley Adams, Kenil Patel; Second Row: Julian Weber, Justin Stewart, Justin Beasley Turner, Nathan Camacho, Seth Thomas, Danielle Slody, Dylan Mauger, John Johnson, Michael Stilwell, Lacy Cooper.

No sooner does Pottstown High School's DECA Club get organized for the year, then they start winning awards.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown School District:

Recently, under the direction of advisors, Kevin Pascal and Rebecca Heiser, 19 students who are members of DECA (an association of marketing students) at Pottstown High School participated in the 63rd Annual District 8 Career Development Conference in King of Prussia. 

The competition involved students taking a 100 question content test and situational role playing competitions. 

 “Our students gain valuable experience in developing self-confidence and real life work situations,” Pascal said.

The top seven contestants in the individual events and top five contestants in the team events in each category move on to the state competition held in Hershey, Pennsylvania. 

Students’ role playing is judged on how well they adjust to the various business situations that are presented to them. Pascal said, 

“Our students have gained a better sense of presentation skills in front of a group of strangers who are industry professionals. This competition affords our students the opportunity to set themselves apart from the rest of the competition.”

Pottstown's winners at the DECA conference were, from left, first row: Rashell Williams, Sara Levengood, Allison Ludwig, Rachael Levengood, Julia Day, Ashley Adams, Kenil Patel; second row: Julian Weber, Benjamin Habekost, Danielle Slody, Dylan Mauger, John Johnson, Michael Stilwell

Pottstown High School's DECA had 14 students qualify for the State Conference to be held Feb. 24 to 26.  Here are the winners:

Dylan Mauger	Principles of Business Managements and Administration	5th place
Allison Ludwig	Principles of Finance	2nd place
Rashell Williams	Principles of Hospitality and Tourism	7th place
Julia Day	Principles of Marketing	5th place & Highest Role Play
Ashley Adams	Accounting Application Series	6th place
Kenil Patel	Human Resource Management	6th place
Danielle Slody	Quick Serve Restaurant Management Series	4th place
Benjamin Habekost & Julian Weber	Buying and Merchandising Management Team	2nd place
John Johnson & Michael Stilwell	Hospitality Services Management Team	2nd place & Highest Role Play
Racheal Levengood & Sara Levengood	Travel and Tourism Marketing Management Team	4th place
Justin Beasley Turner	Modeling	4th place

Students taking part in the competition were ;Benjamin Habekost, Yuliza Cruz, Rashell Williams, Sara Levengood, Allison Ludwig, Rachael Levengood, Julia Day, Ashley Adams, Kenil Patel, Julian Weber, Justin Stewart, Justin Beasley Turner, Nathan Camacho, Seth Thomas, Danielle Slody, Dylan Mauger, John Johnson, Michael Stilwell, Lacy Cooper.

DECA is the only Career and Technical Student Organization operating through the nation's schools to attract young people to careers in marketing management and entrepreneurship. Its purposes are to develop respect for education which will contribute to occupational competency and to promote understanding and appreciation for the responsibilities of citizenship in our free enterprise system.