Wando’s Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) team had their regional competition before fall break, and it was hosted right here in Wando’s very own library. Wando hosted all the schools in the region, with around 400 students competing in the roleplay sessions.

One of the most prominent leaders of DECA is Madisan Zemba, who teaches Marketing and Digital Marketing at the East Cooper Center for Advanced Studies (ECCAS).

“Each student signed up for a certain series that they wanted to compete in and then … they were sectioned off in a room to [compete] … They have to like to walk up to [the judges] professionally, shake their hand, really just act it out and then the judges score them based off what they say,” Zemba said.

The judges were local professionals who specialize in areas such as marketing, finance and accounting. Students were tasked to read a hypothetical scenario, make a plan and present it to these professionals. Some popular sections that DECA students compete in are Marketing Communication, Business and Hospitality.

51 Wando students competed, and 28 will be going on to compete in the state competition in February. Notable regional winners were Jack Israels and Davis Bonds, who won first place in their competition series.

Preparation for the next competition, which is held in North Charleston, has already begun. Members will be taking a 100-question test that goes into their scoring, as well as the roleplay session.

Finalists:

1st Ada Kennelly Accounting Applications

1st Davis Bonds Business Finance

1st charlie roe Business Services Marketing

1st Svetlana Reznikova Entrepreneurship

1st Norah O’Connell Human Resources Management

1st Charles Angerman Personal Financial Literacy

1st Anna Kloman Sports and Entertainment Marketing

2nd Gidon Mackrill Business Services Marketing

2nd Lawson Bonds Entrepreneurship

2nd Gianna Tringali Food Marketing

2nd Padraic O’Connell Hotel and Lodging Management

2nd Addison Polirer Hotel and Lodging Management

2nd Jack Israels Human Resources Management

2nd Hollen Sturdivant Marketing Communications

3rd Ceton Lightfoot Business Services Marketing

3rd Emmi Hunter Food Marketing

3rd Jack Lurkin Hotel and Lodging Management

3rd Olivia Hauff Marketing Communications

3rd Nyssa Kuonen Marketing Communications

3rd Amelia Solari Restaurant and Food Service Management