The Chaplin School hosted the 2016/2017 Florida Collegiate DECA State Career Development Conference on November 12 and 13, where 175 students, advisors, industry partners and DECA staff engaged with talented students from 10 colleges and universities in Florida.
FIU Hospitality students placed first, second or third in eight events after winning first place in 60% of their group events at the Collegiate Leadership Academy in New York, NY one week earlier.
The FIU-BBC Collegiate DECA chapter has grown considerably since its inception in the Spring. What started as a four-member team is now almost 20 members strong, and the group has qualified for finals or placed at every single competition they’ve attended.
DECA advisor, Nico Rose, is immensely proud of the work they’ve done.
“Aside from the fact that the students have had some amazing opportunities to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom, they’re getting to know each other and serving as their own little support group,” he said. “It makes me happy to see.”
The team will travel to Washington D.C. this weekend for the Ultimate DECA Power Trip where they will get to meet and compete against students from all across the country.
In addition to all of their recent success, 16 members have qualified to attend the International Career Development Conference next Spring.
FIU-BBC Collegiate DECA Victories:
Serena Beze, 1st Place, Travel and Tourism
Serena Beze, 2nd Place, Hotel/Lodging
John Simpson, 1st Place, Hotel/Lodging
John Simpson, 2nd Place, Entrepreneurship
Taisha Coradin & Gabrielle Demmer, 2nd Place, Event Management
Taisha COradin, 1st Place, Leadership Development Seminar
Rowan Toolsie, 1st Place, Professional Sales
Faith Snow & Heissel Mayorga, 3rd Place, Business Ethics
