Members of DECA qualify to compete at States in Atlantic City

The top 15 scores in individual events and top nine scores in team events will be moving on to States.

Bethany Chen, Hills Life Editor|January 12, 2023

Briana Keenan

There were about 115 competitors in the 1st round of competition.  

On Jan. 3, the Pascack Hills DECA club went to the Northeast District Conference competition at the Hilton Secaucus. There, members of the club participated in the role play aspect of the competition.

In early November, members had to choose a role play to compete in. There are over 30 different business related categories.

Hills senior Hannah Baskin commented on the preparation process for this competition.

“My partner and I studied the performance indicators beforehand and discussed speaking strategies for our roleplay to make sure we performed well as a pair,” she said. 

The top 15 scores in individual events and top nine scores in team events will be moving on to States. The scores are based on each competitor’s role play scores and test scores. There were about 115 competitors in the 1st round of competition.  

DECA advisor Corin Gamgort said, “It was wonderful to be back in person. The participants, judges and advisors all felt the same way. Problem solving on your feet and presenting to a judge in person is the best.” 

The following members qualified for States. Listed are the categories and the team or individual that qualified.

Automotive Services Marketing:

  • Matt Merlino 
  • Preet Patel 

Business Law and Ethic Team Decision Making:

  • Justin Diamond and Ari Hirshfield 

Business Service Marketing:

  • Zack Slater 

Buying and Merchandising Management Team Decision Making:

  • Hannah Baskin and Sophie Edelshain
  • Alice Gradzki and Lydia Edelshain   
  • Jillian Fleishman and Adriane Heit

Financial Consulting Event:

  • Juliana Ciaudelli
  • Kiran Dhawan
  • Michael Weishar 
  • Natalie Krass

Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling:

  • Fares Daraghmeh 
  • Gabe Crandall 

Hospitality Services Management Decision Making:

  • Jake Agranovich and Jonathan Matthew
  • Reece Benisatto and Madison Saks

Human Resource Management:

  • Brady Gannon

Marketing Communications:

  • Dylan Cochin 

Personal Financial Literacy:

  • Dylan Fitter

Principles of Hospitality and Tourism:

  • Sophia Ross   

Principles of Marketing:  

  • Arkady Kokush

Retail Merchandising:

  • Ariana Ally
  • Nicole Golub

Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team Decision Making:

  • Amresh Balakrishnan and Stephen Huang

Sports and Entertainment Marketing Series:

  • Olivia Ge

Gamgort ended with her personal feelings following the competition. 

“I am so proud of our amazing Hills DECA Chapter,” she said.