On March 9, the members of Bridgeport High School DECA were taking the stage in Charleston, West Virginia. Every single member who competed in the 2020 West Virginia State DECA Career Development Conference and Competition placed. Every single person qualified to travel to Nashville next month to compete in the International Career Development Conference, competing against students from around the world. 

 

BHS DECA is a student organization with a rich history of doing long-term community service projects, creating state champions with projects relating to management, entrepreneurship, marketing, finance and hospitality, and serving as student leaders throughout Harrison County. The students began their competition projects in November, after celebrating National DECA Month with school and community outreach programs promoting the organization.

 

Student projects can be up to 30 pages in length, requiring months of marketing research, analysis, and recommendations, many of which benefit local businesses or ongoing efforts to help in the local community.  

 

Alden Smith placed first in the state in the Entrepreneurship Individual Series.BHS juniors Dakota Swiger, Molly Runner and Corinne Lalama placed first in the state with their Community Awareness Project showcasing BHS DECA’s continued efforts with suicide prevention.    

Sarah McCrory placed first in the state in Financial Consulting and Nathan Rago placed third in the state in Accounting Applications. Anthony Li, Dylan Auvil, and Lexii Jay placed second with their project on local business, Koin Coffee and Crepes.

 

Upon their return to BHS that day, the uncertainty of the week began to unfold, eventually leading to the cancellation of the International conference for which they qualified. While disappointed, members are already beginning to plan ways to use their skills in the community once the social isolation is lifted.  

 

“Our DECA chapter has always been dedicated to helping the community at large and using our skills in marketing to help small businesses,” said WV State DECA President, Alden Smith. “We know many businesses are being impacted by this pandemic and we hope to be able to offer free marketing research, promotional recommendations, and financial advice to help them recover.”