On December 13, the DECA chapter of JP Stevens held its annual DECA Night. DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) is an organization across several high schools and colleges which helps students prepare for careers in business, hospitality, and management. In this club, students have the opportunity to attend educational conferences where they can participate in business competitions. DECA Night allowed its members to practice their skills, network, and enjoy time together.
The night started with an opening ceremony where executive board members introduced themselves and the purpose of the event. They held an exciting holiday gift bag raffle to get started. Selling these raffle tickets allowed for the fundraising of DECA’s upcoming trips throughout the year. These encompass state conferences and the international conference (ICDC), which was held in California last year. The gift bags themselves contained fun holiday prizes such as fuzzy socks, hot chocolate, and gingerbread house kits.
Middle schoolers from John Adams Middle school and Woodrow Wilson Middle School were also in attendance at DECA Night. They partook in the activities on their own, gaining valuable experience in the business field before starting their high school career.
During DECA Night, members drifted around different rooms which had a multitude of events to choose from. One room held targeted roleplay practice for district competitions. Role play is an important competitive event in which students are given a business scenario and must respond to the situation in the role of a company leader, with little to no preparation. The event allows students to develop their spontaneous thinking and speaking skills, which are crucial in real-world business fields.
A similar activity held was the mock presentation practice session. This activity allowed members to emulate their presentation skills for actual competitions. Within these events, members research and present marketing campaigns, business plans, financial analysis, or other projects showcasing their knowledge in a targeted area. Board members floated around the room, giving members tips about compiling their presentations and presenting properly. Afterwards, members took turns sharing their works.
“Mock presentations were a great way for students to develop their research and presentation skills,” stated junior executive board member Aanya Marya. “The activity additionally highlighted the talent of members who did not get a chance to compete in prior conferences.”
The third activity hosted was a scavenger hunt testing members on their knowledge of general business terms, economic concepts, and market strategies. Students were asked questions and went to a corresponding room with the next letter of the word, ultimately spelling out the word “entrepreneurship.”
“The scavenger hunt was a great culmination to our DECA Night!” remarked junior executive board member Shannon Zhang. “In addition to getting up and discussing with one another, students benefited from testing their own knowledge about core DECA concepts.”
Overall, the DECA Night was a huge success with an incredibly positive feedback from both the middle and high schoolers in attendance. DECA is a valuable extracurricular for many students looking to further their careers in the fields of business, entrepreneurship, finance, hospitality, and others. This event not only allowed members to develop their DECA skills, but have a truly memorable time together.
