DCIT marketing students compete at Region II DECA competition
DCIT students who placed in the top ten in the DECA Regional competition qualify to compete in the DECA State competition from left to right: Hunter Purvis, Jared Martrano, Josh Chester, Jada Zimmerman, Elijah Vaughn, Fanny Serrano, and Jakayla McCullough. Photo contributed
On December 1, 2015, marketing students from the Darlington County Institute of Technology (DCIT) joined other marketing students across the region for the Region II DECA competitive events which were held at Westwood High School in Blythewood, S.C. DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) is an international organization for marketing students with over 180,000 members in the United States, Canada, Germany, and Puerto Rico whose main purpose is to develop leadership and business skills in today’s aspiring marketing students. DECA also provides opportunities for students to network with industry leaders and earn recognition in competitive events. There are three DECA regions in South Carolina. Courses available at DCIT which allow membership in DECA are Marketing, Accounting, Finance, Business Law, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership.
Advisors Pam Smith and Latrica Jackson prepare students for the competition by having them complete sample written and computer tests, prepare a variety of related classroom assignments, and participate in role play situations related to their event with their classmates and community volunteers. Each competitor had to take an on-line business content test at the school in November with ten minutes to read and prepare for their role-play on December 1.
Students placing in the top ten in their event were awarded a medallion and certificate on stage in front of their peers during an awards ceremony.
The following DCIT students were honored for placing in their respective event:
• Jada Zimmerman: Retail Merchandising; 2nd place
• Jakayla McCullough: Accounting Principles; Top Ten
• Fanny Serrano: Apparel and Accessories Marketing; Top Ten
• Jared Martrano: Food Marketing; Top Ten
• Elijah Vaughn: Full-Service Restaurant Management; Top Ten
• Hunter Purvis: Marketing Management; Top Ten
• Josh Chester: Sports and Entertainment Marketing; Top Ten
All of these students qualify to compete at the state level, held in North Charleston on February 26 – February 28, 2016.
If they can place in the top three at state competition, they are eligible to go to the International DECA Conference in Orlando, FL in April 25-28.
