FHS DECA members earn top spots in state

Twenty-one Farragut High School DECA Club members won top spots at the state level and qualified to compete in the International Career Development Conference April 23-27 in Atlanta, Georgia, and they are hoping for some help from the community to attend the event.

The students were among 60 from FHS who competed either in teams or individually in Chattanooga March 3-5.

Those earning the chance to compete in Atlanta are: Ashlyn Sims, Apparel and Accessories Marketing Series; Nolan Du, Business Growth Plan; Sydney Dean and Kaitlyn Kelly, Business Services Operations Research; Ashley van Tol and Ali Moss, Buying and Merchandising Operations Research; Abby Mahoney, Emmie Harville and Jessica Hinkle, Community Giving Project; Katelyn Kramer and Clair Winegard, Finance Operations Research; Jordan Robison, Financial Consulting Event; Allie Podhajsky, Food Marketing Series; Cole Palmer, Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling; Connor Deakins and Sean van Tol, Integrated Marketing Campaign; Danny Orrico, Marketing Communications Series; Om Patel, Principles of Hospitality and Tourism; Natalie Szwarc, Professional Selling; and Izzy Coffy and Ryan Dickens, Sports and Entertainment Marketing Research Operations.

Deakins and van Tol’s project simulated a marketing campaign for University of Tennessee Medical Center’s vaccine initiative.

“It was pretty relevant and timely,” Deakins said.

“We were looking for something that could benefit the community,” added van Tol, who noted two of his siblings also won the right to attend ICDC.

Another set of students researched how COVID-19 affected certain businesses, specifically Aspen Dental, and won with their presentation during the state event.

“We are so proud of all our students and how well they did,” said FHS business education teacher Tricia Leslie, who along with fellow business education teacher Lori Parks, sponsors the club.

“This is such a large group going to Nationals — I think it is among our largest ever, and we are hoping folks in the community or some of our local businesses might be willing to contribute to the cost of attending the event,” Leslie added, estimating it would cost about $600 per student.

“This is a great opportunity for them to compete, and it would be a shame if they couldn’t attend because of the cost.”

She said about 18,000 high school students from across the country will be competing.

DECA, formerly the Distributed Education Clubs of America, and now known only by its letters, helps prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

Anyone wishing to contribute to FHS DECA Club’s upcoming competition, may send checks in care of FHS/DECA, 11237 Kingston Pike, Farragut TN 37934.