Foothill DECA brings home dozens of awards

Some 60 students from Foothill High School earned recognition at a business and career development conference in San Ramon last month, earning dozens of awards in an annual competition that sees hundreds of students compete from across the region.

At the annual DECA Northern California Career Development Conference, held Jan. 18-20, over 850 students from schools throughout Northern California competed in a series of real-life business scenarios that test a students practical skills and theoretical knowledge of the business world.

Out of the 150 awards distributed to finalists in a given category, Foothill students achieved six first-place awards, nine second-place awards, seven third-place awards, and 11 fourth-place awards.

"Prior to the Northern California Career Development Conference, students prepared for months to compete in the organization's numerous events," Foothill's DECA spokesperson Pranav Dhar said. "Through comprehensive exams, on-the-spot presentations, and prepared written projects, students were able to demonstrate the skills gained through months of training."

In addition to testing the business acumen of each student, the conference provided the opportunity for contestants to network with other students, alumni and professionals in numerous fields.

First-place Foothill finishers and the categories they won in are as follows:

* Ananth Kumar, Business Operations Research

* Ananth Kumar, Business Services Marketing

* Rithvik Sunku, Business Operations Research

* Mihir Weling, Business Operations Research

* Nathan Williams, Sports and Entertainment Team Decision-Making

* Dylan Zhao, Sports and Entertainment Team Decision-Making.

Not ones to rest on their laurels, Foothill DECA students are already training for the next competition, getting ready for the State Career Development Conference in March.