Gann DECA made school history at this year’s International Career Development Conference, known as ICDC, bringing home Gann’s first DECA glass trophy. This year’s conference took place in Atlanta and brought together more than 26,000 students from around the world.
Gann sent eight students to compete: Jacob D ’26, Bee F ’26, Penny J ’28, Ethan LL ’27, Noam N ’26, Ethan RG ’29, Yonatan S ’27, and Henry Z ’28.
All eight students were awarded DECA’s Certificate of Excellence for their performances. In order to qualify for ICDC, students first compete at the district level, where the top four competitors in each category advance to the state competition. At states, the top eight competitors in each category qualify for ICDC. Once in Atlanta, each Gann student competed against roughly 225 other top students in their event.
All three Gann seniors came home from ICDC with international awards.
Noam Neiger received a medal for earning a top exam score in Principles of Business Management and Administration. Bee Foster was named a top 20 finalist in the Apparel and Accessories Marketing Series and earned a Top Role Play award in the category. Jacob Darish earned a Top Presentation medal and placed third overall in the world in Financial Consulting, winning Gann’s first DECA glass trophy!
In DECA, “glass” is the trophy awarded to the top 3 overall finishers in each event at ICDC. For a Gann student to win glass in only the chapter’s second year is an extraordinary accomplishment.
ICDC capped a year of remarkable growth for Gann DECA. With roughly 80 students participating, Gann DECA became one of the schools largest student clubs in only its second year. At districts, states, and ICDC, Gann students competed against larger schools with longer-established chapters and showed that Gann belongs at the highest levels of DECA competition.
DECA is one of the best ways for students to build practical skills they will use well beyond high school. Students learn how to think on their feet, speak clearly, solve business problems, work under pressure, and present ideas with confidence. With more than 50 different DECA events across categories including finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, business management, hospitality and tourism, apparel and accessories marketing, and sports and entertainment marketing, students can find an event that fits their interests. Students do not need prior DECA or business experience to join. They just need to be willing to prepare, practice, and try something new.
Next year’s ICDC will be in Anaheim, California, right near Disneyland, giving Gann DECA a pretty exciting goal to work toward. In the coming weeks, the new Gann DECA board will host an information session for students who want to learn more.
Congratulations to Jacob, Bee, Penny, Ethan L., Noam, Ethan R., Yonatan, and Henry on a fantastic ICDC, and congratulations to the full Gann DECA chapter on a year that set a new standard for what Gann DECA can accomplish.
