For the first time in Bridgeport High School history, all ten BHS DECA members who competed at the West Virginia State Career Development Conference placed as winners and will advance to the International Career Development Conference in Atlanta, Georgia in April.

 

DECA is a student organization that features the best and the brightest who intend to pursue careers in marketing, management, finance, entrepreneurship, and hospitality. Each year, they dedicate themselves to doing community service projects, developing employability skills and preparing themselves for competition.

 

At the state competition, Alden Smith not only placed first in her Community Service event, but also earned a spot as a state officer on the State Action Team.  Freshman Andrew Liu also placed first in his event, Personal Selling.

 

Jake Runner and Madelyn Lalama placed second for their Financial Literacy Promotion Plan, which was implemented with BMS students last fall.  Molly Runner, Dakota Swiger and Corinne Lalama placed second in the Public Relations event for their work with Bridgeport High School’s Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program and Ella Flowers placed second in her Business Services Research event.  Rhe Freeman and Carlie Crayton placed second in their Independent Business Plan event, which was also a contender for the High School Business Plan Competition this year.

 

Last year, the group opened a store to benefit those affected by the floods in Southern West Virginia and this year they have sponsored free scholarship nights for seniors, created a Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Club, and started and Entrepreneurship Club for younger students.

 

Bridgeport High School DECA worked tirelessly throughout the school year to raise funds to enable them to attend the international competition in Atlanta, to be held April 19-25.  They will continue accepting sponsorships and donations in order to make the trip affordable and inquiries can be directed to trinarunner@gmail.com.

 

The International Career Development Conference enables over 20,000 students from all fifty states and nine countries to compete for scholarships and internships with Fortune 500 companies.  Bridgeport High School students have placed among the top state competitors for the past fifteen years and continue to create projects that impress the judges and make a difference in the local community.