A team of nine talented students from Palmer Ridge DECA put in immense effort throughout the year, culminating in their well-deserved qualification for the prestigious International Career Development Conference held in Orlando, Florida. The conference, spanning six days, saw over 20,000 DECA members representing various countries converging to showcase their skills and compete in various categories.
DECA is a worldwide organization that enable students to compete using their acquired knowledge of business, economics, and finance terms. Whether it be through a written event, essentially a business presentation, or through a role play, where an individual student or team presents ideas on the spot, students had the opportunity to qualify for the National Competition with their performance at State.
The Palmer Ridge DECA students proved their nerve in the competition. After two days of competition, juniors Amy Berliner and Alexis Burns emerged as global third-place winners in the highly competitive Buying and Merchandising Operations Research category. This category demands a thorough understanding of research methodologies, strategic planning, and presentation skills to develop a persuasive business proposal. Their outstanding performance functions as a testament to their hard work, dedication, and exceptional skills. Berliner and Burns are now recognized at the third best team in this category in the world, an accomplishment that Palmer Ridge DECA Adviser Courtney Bushnell has never witnessed in her ten years at the school.
While Burns and Berliner swept the National title, another great competitor, sophomore Anabelle Reynolds participated in the Human Resources category at the conference. She scored very well and became a global finalist, ranking in the top 22 in the world. Reynolds, a first year DECA member, did exceptionally well in her first National appearance, and it would be no surprise if she eventually claims an award in the future.
At their first ever National Competition, senior team Natali Volk and Olivia Towns earned a medal for the highest role play score in their event of Team Sports and Entertainment Marketing. This powerhouse duo, while not advancing through Nationals, have done exceptional things all year, rightfully earning the award for the top role play in their event in the world.
In addition to our winners in the Buying and Merchandising Operations Research Category, 2023 ICDC was an outstanding achievement, with plenty of other students accomplishing great things and ending the season on a positive note.
When the students where not competing, they had the privilege of exploring Universal Studios, a chance for everyone to kick back and relax. The park also hosted a special DECA night, giving all competitors exclusive access to ride all the rides at night!
The DECA chapter and Palmer Ridge High School are proud of our Palmer Ridge DECA students for their outstanding achievement at the International Career Development Conference. This serves as an example of the high-quality education and training the school provides, equipping our students with the necessary skills for a successful future in the constantly changing business world.
We are proud of our Palmer Ridge DECA students for their outstanding achievement at the International Career Development Conference. This serves as an example of the high-quality education and training we provide, equipping our students with the necessary skills for a successful future in the constantly changing business world.
