Cape High business students heading to international competition

After a strong showing in state competition, Cape High business students heading to the international contest have planned a game show fundraiser to alleviate travel and registration costs.

Cape High business and marketing teacher Kristen Jones also serves as advisor for the school’s Distributed Education Clubs of America chapter. Jones said her students had an outstanding day and excelled in their competitions.

“Thirty-six students participated, and 32 of them earned a medal,” she said of the Career Development Conference held Feb. 1 at Atlantic Sands Hotel & Conference Center in Rehoboth Beach. “Another exciting note is that 19 of the winners were first-time DECA members/participants.”

Seniors Sara Dawson and Morgan Newcomb have won first place at state competition all four years they have participated, she said.

Additionally, three Cape students were newly elected as Delaware DECA state officers. They are Krish Prattipati, president; Kathryn Costello, vice president of leadership; and Jack Flynn, vice president of hospitality.

Cape DECA officers are President Andrew Racz, Vice President Krish Prattipati, Vice President of Marketing Jack Flynn and Vice President of Leadership Wiley Owens. New Cape officers will take over for the next school year once the team returns from the international conference in May, Jones said.

Students said 240 peers were involved in competitions at the state level, which Flynn said gave them the opportunity to connect with familiar faces and interact with other chapters. The contest is usually held at the University of Delaware, Prattipati said, and everyone enjoyed the new setting in Rehoboth.

Club officers said their experience at the competition comprised campaigning for state office positions, attending workshops and helping to run the whole event.

This year’s team has been the most committed and collaborative, Racz said, with a nod to Jones’ strength as an advisor.

Come On Down to Cape High

To help with costs of the trip to the DECA International Career Development Conference in Anaheim, Calif., April 27-30, club officers have devised a fun and unique way to raise money and engage their school and community.

Anyone who placed in the state competition is eligible to attend the international conference, Racz said, and every dollar raised will go directly toward student costs.

“We want as many people as possible to have the same experience we did last year,” Racz said. “We don’t want money to be an obstacle. We want everyone to go and compete.”

Racz said the idea was based on an event he created for an assignment last school year.

“I came up with a ‘Price Is Right’ type event and thought we could do it as Come On Down,” he said.

Racz said he realized the club could actually put together such a fundraiser, so members have spent the last nine months working to turn the imagined event into reality.

Each officer secured business partners who were happy to donate prizes, he said. Sponsors are Kings Creek Country Club, Grain on the Rocks, Turtley Awesome and La Vida Hospitality.

Cape High carpentry students are constructing a large wheel for contestants to spin, and Funland loaned the club a Plinko board for the games.

“The community is coming together to help,” Racz said.

“It’s nice to see support outside school to provide what we need to make it successful,” Prattipati said.

A jelly bean guessing jar is set up in the school store, which is open during advisory every day and last period every other day, Racz said. The winner of a Dunkin gift card will be announced at the event.

Owens will serve as host, Flynn and Prattipati will assist competitors on stage, and Racz will run operations.

Competitive tickets allow entry into the event with the chance of being called down to the stage to play in the games. Tickets that are not called down to compete will be turned into a raffle ticket sponsored by La Vida Hospitality. Viewer tickets allow entry to watch the event and count as one raffle ticket.

Preregistered prices are $8 for competitors and $4 for attendees. Door prices are $12 for competitors and $8 for attendees. Raffle tickets, snacks, drinks and slushies will also be available for purchase.

Doors open at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 23, at the Cape High auditorium.

For more information, contact Cape High DECA on Instagram @cape_deca or email kristen.jones@cape.k12.de.us.

Cape DECA student awards

Colston Acquesta, second place, business service marketing
Andrew Racz and Julianna Baron, first place, marketing management team decision making
Sia Patel and Sahil Patel, third place, marketing management team decision making
Ann Beck, first place, hospitality and tourism professional selling
Max Beck, second place, principles of finance
Brody Trewartha, third place, principles of finance
Addison Breneman and Addison Wood, third place, hospitality services team decision making
Eric Cespedes and Gavin Rineer, first place, entrepreneurship team decision making
Adyson and Jayden Kaufman, third place, entrepreneurship team decision making
Kathryn Costello and Krish Prattipati, second place, innovation plan
Anna Coverdale and Jacob McLean, first place, independent business plan
Sara Dawson and Morgan Newcomb, first place, travel & tourism team decision making
Carly Favoroso, second place, retail merchandising
Carson Greenberg, second place, entrepreneurship
Stephen Hart, first place, personal financial literacy
Sullivan Naden, second place, personal financial literacy
Burke Healy and Jake Hutchison, first place, business law and ethics team decision making
Caleb Marcus, second place, principles of hospitality and tourism
Wiley Owens, first place, quick service restaurant management
William Powell, first place, automotive services marketing
Ellie Sprague, third place, principles of marketing
Samantha Swift, third place, marketing communications
Sarah Wolansky, first place, restaurant and food service management