Gann students at the Massachusetts DECA State Career Development Conference.
Last week, fifteen Gann students competed against more than 4,500 peers at the Massachusetts DECA State Career Development Conference, a statewide business competition for high school students. The atmosphere was electric, with students moving between workshops, competitive events, and presentations before industry judges.
DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) is a nationally recognized program that prepares high school and college students for careers in business, with opportunities that span marketing, finance, hospitality, management, fashion design, and leadership.
Eight Gann students qualified for the international competition in Atlanta this April: Ethan R‑G ’29, Henry Z ’28, Jacob D ’26, Bee F ’26, Noam N ’26, Penny J ’28, Ethan L‑L ’27, and Yonatan S ’27. Isabelle O. ’27 finished in the top 12 in her event, and Eve Z. ’27, Jake D. ’26, Jack S. ’28, Jonah C ’26, Yoni Y. ’27, and Itay N. ’28 also turned in strong performances.
A student reflection:
When asked what he was proud of, Henry Z. ’28 replied: “Being elected as one of the Massachusetts DECA state officers. I worked very hard to get this role, and it was incredibly rewarding when it all paid off.”
In only its second year, Gann’s DECA chapter has grown incredibly from 26 to 80 students, and the number of international qualifiers has risen from three last year to eight this year. It was an exciting weekend and a strong showing for the entire team.