Donned with a fedora and a strand of pearls, Bridgeport High School Junior, Emily Griffith, kicked off her State DECA Officer Campaign with a “Great Gatsby” theme.  Her leadership qualities and creativity landed her the coveted position on the state officer team, making her the first state officer from Bridgeport High School ever. 

 

In true Bridgeport High School fashion, 11 students placed at the State DECA Competition, propelling them to the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in April.  The ICDC takes place in Orlando, Florida and will include students from all 50 states and nine countries.

 

In first place, Haleigh Mardos and Victoria Drake won their event for designing an advertising campaign for multicultural dolls.  Emily Griffith placed second in Business Services and Abbey Cottrill placed second in Accounting Principles. Ryley Sturm placed second in Food Marketing, with Sammy Jesmer placing third in that category.  Calvin Nguyen placed third in Restaurant Marketing.  In the Virtual Business Challenge, Austin Randolph, Levi McClain and Walter Cambeis placed first in the state. BHS DECA won several chapter awards at the state level and Haleigh Mardos was named one of only three students in the state to win the National DECA Emerging Leader Honor Award.

 

DECA is an international student-led organization for students pursuing careers in marketing, finance, management, hospitality, and entrepreneurship.  They prepare emerging leaders by helping them to be academically prepared for college, community oriented, and professionally responsible. At the national level, students will have the opportunity to earn scholarships and internships with over 80 international companies.

 

Students are now raising funds to finance their trip to ICDC.  They are conducting several fundraisers and have set up a go fund me page for donations.  Anyone wishing to contribute to the cause can go to www.gofundme.com/pabw64.