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Foothill High School’s DECA students are headed to Orlando, Fla. later this month to compete in an International Career Development Conference.
The upcoming conference is the grand stage of DECA, with all 50 states and other countries participating. At this conference, members will test their limits while competing with the best of the best, according to a statement from the school’s program leaders.
Leading up to the conference set for April 26-29, Foothill DECA has undergone rigorous training with hopes to continue its streak of competitive success at the international level.
DECA – which stands for Distributive Education Clubs of America – is a program for high school and college students interested in business that aims to prepare them for careers in various fields including marketing, hospitality and finance, among others. It’s offered as part of the Regional Occupational Program in high schools.
Part of their training includes annual mock Interviews where students from all business academy classes at Foothill are interviewed by volunteers in the same career pathways, allowing them to develop skills to be used in future real interviews, according to a separate statement last month from the program instructor.
Under the guidance of their advisor Tami Raaker, students were asked to bring their resumes to gain valuable feedback in the sessions last month. They then participated in a 15-minute interview that challenged them with questions ranging from critical thinking to personal questions.
“This year’s Mock Interview was an incredible success. Our officer and advisory teams put in a lot of work to create an event where students could train and develop their interview skills with industry professionals,” said Rithwik Gangam, Foothill DECA’s director of training, who served as a key leader in the planning and organization of the mock interview.
Foothill DECA’s road to Orlando also follows a successful run at the State Career Development Conference held in Anaheim from Feb. 27 through March 2.
Hosting thousands of students from schools across the state, the intense competition showcased participants’ skills in role play, written and exam categories aligned with national curriculum standards in marketing, business management and administration, finance, and hospitality and tourism.
With 83 students representing Foothill DECA, the group secured 31 top 10 awards and 23 students qualified for the international conference in the face of fierce competition.
“Preparing for states was a rigorous process for everyone,” said Allen John, a competitor and top-10 award winner. “We spent hours studying for tests, doing practice role plays, and working on written reports and presentations. I think all the hard work we put in prior to the competition is what led to our success.”
Preparation started over a month before the competition as members worked with mentors constantly to gain feedback about how to improve and be competition ready, according to program leaders.
The stakes were high at the recent statewide competition as success meant a shot at coveted awards and qualification for the International Career Development Conference.
Vatsal Srivastava, one of the students who qualified for the international competition, expressed excitement to compete at the next level.
“States was an extremely great experience, as it allowed for me to hone and display my DECA skills at the highest level,” Srivastava said. “I had so much fun with all my friends as well, and I can’t wait to have an even better time at ICDC!”
To find more information or to participate in future DECA events, contact foothilldeca@gmail.com.
