Cape High business students prevail in state competition
In what’s becoming an annual achievement, Cape High business students performed strongly in state competition Feb. 4, netting 23 medals and filling three state club officer positions.
Kristen Jones, advisor for Cape’s Distributed Education Clubs of America chapter, said that out of 24 Cape students who competed in the event, 23 medaled, including 17 for first place, five second place and one third place.
Competition consisted of a written exam and a role-play situation in which students had to solve real-life business or human resources problems, or create marketing plans. Students said the format of this year’s competition, held virtually, gave them more time to fine-tune their presentations.
Seniors and Cape DECA club co-Presidents Molly Hudecheck and Emily Racz competed as a team in the buying and merchandising decision-making category. They created a marketing plan for a clothing store that was transitioning to appeal to older clients, moving from styles for teens to apparel for young adults.
In the human resources management category, junior and Cape DECA Director of Finance Dylan Roberts balanced ethical, legal and financial repercussions of a company implementing a no-smoking policy. Dylan was also elected president of the state DECA club for the 2021-22 school year.
Sophomore and Cape DECA Director of Human Resources Austin Futty partnered with Willow Troise in the hospitality services decision-making category to create a strategy to guide a in hotel planning for an upcoming NCAA basketball tournament. Austin was also named vice president of leadership, and classmate Kaela Rothstein was named vice president of marketing.
All students who placed qualified to compete in the international competition, which will run virtually from April 19 through May 6. Cape students say they have high expectations for medaling in the event, after last year’s competition was canceled due to COVID-19.
Seniors Molly Hudecheck, Emily Racz and Talia Liburdi also received the Emerging Leader Honor Award, which recognizes members who have been involved at the local, chartered association and DECA Inc. levels. To be eligible, senior students must have a 3.2 GPA, have completed at least one course in marketing, business management and administration, entrepreneurship, finance or hospitality and tourism, and have participated in a variety of activities that helped them become community-oriented, professionally responsible and experienced leaders.
Cape’s DECA chapter was also named the Achievement Level Chapter Campaign winner for community service.
Cape High medalists
First place
Andrew Racz, automotive services marketing series
Christian Armstrong, entrepreneur team decision making
Blaine Davis, entrepreneur team decision making
Dru Buehler, marketing management team decision making
Tia Jarvis, marketing management team decision making
Sara Dawson, travel and tourism team decision making
Morgan Newcomb, travel and tourism team decision making
Joseph DeGregory, principles of marketing
Molly Hudecheck, buying and merchandising team decision making
Emily Racz, buying and merchandising team decision making
Kareena Keswani, accessories and apparel
Dylan Roberts, human resource management
Riley Roberts, retail merchandising series
Kaela Rothstein, food marketing series
Cole Schellenberger, entrepreneur series
Austin Futty, hospitality services team decision making
Willow Troise, hospitality services team decision making
Second place
Aya Daisey, marketing management team decision making
Heidi Simmons, marketing management team decision making
Alexander Howarth, professional selling
Justin McGregor, financial services team decision making
Rahul C. Patel, financial services team decision making
Third place
Talia Liburdi, human resource management
