Team finishes first in Chapter Gold event

After weeks of preparation, business students have managed to triumph over the competition unlike their group has ever done before.
DECA, which teaches business and administration practices, competed at the State competition March 3-5 and qualified six  competitors for the international competition.
Seniors Sarah Brandt, Anders Conroy, Tamara Covacevich, Benji Fischman, Ben Gruber and Sarah Silbert will travel to the international competition April 24-28, in Anaheim, Calif.
Brandt finished second in the Quick Service Restaurant Management individual series event, Conroy finished second in the Food Marketing individual series event, Covacevich finished third in Employment Interviews, Gruber placed first in Principles of Marketing, Silbert placed sixth in Human Resources Management individual series event.
Additionally, Park placed first in the overall Chapter Gold category, which was presented by Brandt, Conroy and Fischman.
DECA adviser Sophia Ross said she was very impressed by the overall performances at the three day competition.
“I’m always surprised when the students place because it is so competitive at the State (competition),” Ross said.
Gruber said he was highly anticipating the opportunity to travel to California after such a long period of hard work that in the end paid off for him.
“Even though my event involved a lot of improvising, it still required a lot of practice, and I was determined to place as high as possible,” Gruber said.
Ross also said that she is proud of the accomplishments of this particular group of seniors and their drive to achieve success.
“In the past we may have just sent maybe a few students to the national competition, so given that this year we have managed to send six different students makes me especially proud of this group,” Ross said.