Hilton Head Preparatory School DECA Students Earn 24 Medals at State Career Development Conference

 

DECA is an international student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Through competitive events, leadership opportunities, and hands-on business experiences, students develop practical skills that prepare them for college and future careers.

Hilton Head Prep traveled with a team of 44 students who competed in more than 25 different events spanning entrepreneurship, business management, finance, hospitality, and marketing. The team delivered an outstanding performance, bringing home 24 medals across multiple categories.

While official statistics on overall school performance are not maintained, the DECA advising team noted the impressive results of Hilton Head Prep students. “On a percentage of students' medaling basis, I don’t think there was a school that did much better than Prep,” one advisor shared.

Award Winners:
Cody Wilbert - Automotive Services Marketing
Mika Shimada - Business Finance Series
Thayer McLaughlin - Employment Acquisition
Danny Guy - Financial Consulting
Stella Farmer - Food Marketing
Cole Howard and Camelia Edwards - Innovation Plan Team Event
Jack Coughlin - Principles of Business Management
Peter Fenstermaker - Principles of Entrepreneurship
Sammy Rehling - Principles of Marketing
Jeff Adams - Professional Selling
Alexander Burnett and Maya Biles - Project Management Community Giving Team Event
Riley Wilbert - Restaurant and Food Service Management
Rachel Del Gaizo - Retail Merchandising
Hunter Gilroy - Business Finance Series

The following students not only medaled but finished top 3 in their competition category and qualified to compete at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Atlanta in April (an estimated 18,000 students from around the world will attend).  

Harper Hodsdon - Principles of Entrepreneurship (2nd place)
Zoe Lui - Hotel and Lodging Management (2nd place)|
Paulie Smith - Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling (3rd place)
Samantha Fenstermaker - Business Services Marketing (3rd place)
Liliana Miceli and Riley Croker - Project Management Business Solutions Team Event (2nd place)
Stella Farmer - Food Marketing (4th place)

And finally a special congratulations to the state champions in the Hospitality & Tourism Operations Research Team Event:

Ari Dibble
Surina Patel
Avery Shroyer

The success of the team reflects the strength of the school’s Institute for Business and Innovation program and the dedication of students who spent months preparing for the competition.

Participation in the South Carolina Career Development Conference provides students the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real-world business scenarios, sharpen leadership and communication skills, and connect with peers from across the state who share an interest in business and entrepreneurship.

For more information about the Institute for Business and Innovation at Hilton Head Prep, visit https://www.hhprep.org/academics/institute-for-business-and-innovation.