Norton High School Students Tapped to Participate in DECA International Career Development Conference

Norton High School students Jillian Allard (Restaurant Food Service Marketing), Bryce McCarthy (Leadership Institute), and the team of Nick Petersen and Daniel Rafuse (Sports and Entertainment Marketing) are among an elite group of high school students that will travel to Anaheim, Calif., April 23 to April 28, to participate in DECA’s International Career Development Conference.

They will be escorted by their advisor and business teacher Rachel Pilotte.

“We are enormously proud of our students who have worked hard throughout the year and are being recognized as the best and brightest future leaders,” said Heather Albritton, DECA chapter co-advisor and Business Technology Department Academic Coordinator.

“Students will have the benefit of interacting with many Fortune 500 companies that are supportive of what DECA strives to do.” said Aaron Sumner, DECA chapter co-advisor.

DECA is an association of marketing students that provides opportunities for its members to explore career options, gain real-world experience, and take on a leadership role in their future career or vocation. DECA’s renowned Competitive Events Program uses role-play events, comprehensive tests, online simulations, and written projects to evaluate the academic and employability skills their members develop in their marketing education classes, workplace experiences and through the DECA activities.

“Both the education curriculum which utilizes common core standards and the internships with businesses in the community has validated these 21st century skills,” Albritton said.

Each year more than 140,000 DECA members, from around the world, start out competing at their local school or district competition in one or more of 70 different competitive events. Those students refine their skills and projects and move on to their state and provincial conferences, from which roughly 10,000 have earned the right to compete at DECA’s International Career Development Conference.

This year’s conference will bring together nearly 15,000 students, teachers and business and industry representative from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, Canada, Mexico, and Germany will compete for top honors, participate in leadership activities and some take home roughly $300,000 in scholarships.

Norton DECA is accepting sponsorships and donations for Norton DECA competitors. Travel will cost approximately $1,300 per student along with their DECA advisor who will be traveling with them. To sponsor students or donate to the Norton DECA Fund, email Heather Albritton at halbritton@norton.k12.ma.us or send checks payable to Norton Activity Fund-DECA to Norton High School, ATTN: Heather Albritton, 66 W. Main St., Norton, MA  02763.