Deca is among the numerous clubs that are available here at the high school. Unfortunately, not many students are knowledgeable about what Deca represents.
Deca is a program designed to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. In simpler terms, as a student you develop skills necessary to engage in most business fields. Deca improves your ability to speak to others in a professional manner and improves your knowledge of the business world.
The Deca organization has been around for 60 years and has impacted the lives of more than ten million students, educators, school administrators and business professionals since it was founded in 1946. The high school division includes 190,000 members in 3,500 schools while the college division has formerly known as Delta Epsilon Chi includes over 15,000 members in 200 colleges and universities.
In other schools, Deca is a very popular club, but it has taken awhile to catch on in West Milford. In past years, Deca was a class which enabled more students to be involved. Since West Milford High school does not have Deca as a class, it has resorted to being a club. With the transformation, the lack of acknowledgement of the club has led to a decreased amount of members in the past years. Over the last three years, awareness has been raised and the number of members is blossoming.
It can be quite difficult to explain Deca to an individual because it is a hard concept to grasp and understand. Vice President of Deca; Junior Annie Ney said, “ Freshman year, I had no idea what I was doing, until I went to my first competition and even then had no idea, but you learn and understand as you go through and experience it, so basically you learn through your experiences.”
When you compete in Deca you choose a specific division ranging from Hospitality and Tourism to Fashion Merchandising to Principles of Marketing and Finance. The list goes on in reference to what division attracts your particular interest. From there you take a test on your chosen topic. At the competition you are then given business scenarios that you must resolve by talking to a judge which is called a “role play.”
Now Deca probably seems like a club that is boring and not a good time, but you would be surprised it actually is a lot of fun once you get involved and understand. April Deprima, a Junior and Treasurer said, “Once you get to go away for the competitions and spend time with your friends in a hotel while also competing and placing, it’s exciting and you keep wanting to come back.”
Deca involves three competitions; Regional, State, and National levels. All members compete in the Regional level. If students place they can go on to states or complete another assignment to qualify for states. In order to move on to Nationals, you must place in states, which is the last competition in which you can compete. Regionals for North Jersey is at Ramapo College followed by States in Cherry Hill, NJ, where you stay for three days. Last but not least are Nationals where you leave for a week to a specific location each year which varies each year. This year the Deca club is going to Florida and in past years California, Utah, and Georgia.
Members are learning while having fun, which is a great benefit! The Deca club also goes on school trips as well, such as Six Flags for a Business Managment Day where the whole park is closed off for Deca students! The Deca club also has a Deca Cafe in school offering a variety of items including cups or noodles to pop tarts! The Deca Cafe will also be allowing students to hangout in the Deca room and sit and do homework with friends while eating since students cannot eat in the library.
The Deca room is located in the business wing by the nurses office at the end of the hall. Stop by and get something to eat, hang out, and maybe even join the club. Members are always welcome, I guarantee you will enjoy it!
