At Freedom Area high school, there are no classes that teach students about business and marketing. Students who show interest in these fields join DECA. DECA stands for the Distributive Education Clubs of America. DECA is an organization that helps prepare students to become future leaders and entrepreneurs in careers in marketing, financing, hospitality, and management. Students in this club spend their time after school practicing interviewing and exam questions that they will need to know for the competition, they also take time out of their school days, dress in business attire and then travel the competition that is taking place.

High school students were able to participate in a mock competition, which took place at Shakespeare’s Restaurant in Elwood City on Nov. 1st. There, they can learn how to properly act and speak in a business environment, along with meeting with other people from different schools. Freedom competes in District two in DECA because of where they are placed on the map. . Schools located in this district include Chartier’s Valley, North Allegheny, PA Cyber, Alliquipa and Beaver CTC. Students then went to the district competition that took place at the Sheraton hotel on Dec. 3 where they then figured out which students from which schools would continue on to Hershey PA for the State Competition.

DECA at Freedom has experienced a huge increase in membership, in fact, the club went from having 20 members last year to having 38 members this year. This was shocking after the former sponsor stepped down suddenly last year. This led to communications teacher Brad Baldwin to step into the position for the first time this year.

Some of the students that placed in the District 2 competition include Charlie White and Matthew Levenson, took first place in Financial Services Team Decision making, juniors Max Ujhazy and Casey Collins got second for Sports Entertainment Marketing, sophomore Madison Lewis and junior Natalie Dubovi  placed in second for the Hospitality and Tourism Team Decision Making and Baylee Stewart and Jalynn Falk placed second in Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making.

In the individual events, junior Cole Skuse placed first in Business Services Marketing, junior Cade Skuse who got third in Accounting Applications, junior Mason Hedge got third in Hotel and Lodging. Freshman Josiah Dubovi, juniors Evan Ruffing and Adam Hessler all placed for their events, even though it was their first year competing in their respective categories. Josiah Dubovi placed third in Marketing  Communications, Ruffing placed second in Principles of Business Administration, and Adam Hessler placed third in Personal Finance Literacy.

Students who placed in events will be traveling to Hershey for states on Feb. 20 to Feb 22. Students who didn’t qualify for states still have the opportunity to attend if they decide to write manuals.