At DECA’s most recent district competition, THS students performed very well. There are different categories students competed in ranging from apparel and accessories, to principles of hospitality and tourism. All of these categories require critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills, along with creativity.

The apparel and accessories marketing series required participants to deal with a real life situation. Students reviewed their situations for 10 minutes before presenting their solutions to judges. The first place winner of the event was senior Brandi Beckelheimer with a score in the sixties out of one hundred.

Next, was the automotive services marketing series, which has the same requirements as above. Sophomore Ca-ron Murphy had a score in the eighties. Ca-ron came in first place out, as well.

The third and fourth events were successful for the Trojans. Senior Tyler Jarrett won the first place title in business finance series with a score in the seventies. Sophomore Brendan Lahti won first place in the business marketing services with a score in the eighties.

The next two categories were entrepreneurship series and hotel and lodging management series. The winner of the entrepreneurship series was junior Daniel Reynolds, who won first place with a score in the forties.

For the hotel and lodging management series, senior Jacob Keatts took the blue ribbon with a score in the seventies.

Human resources management series and marketing communications followed, with senior Tori Lovern and sophomore Brooklyn Chesner finishing first place.

Other first place winners include: senior Joshua Wells (personal finance literacy), senior Grey Capozzoli (quick service restaurant management), junior Lauren Van Allen and sophomore Hunter Lewis (restaurant and food service management), senior Julianne Breedlove (retail merchandising), senior Trevor Lovelace (sports and entertainment), and  junior Grayson Hardy (principles of finance).

Second places winners include senior Khalil Wall for sports and entertainment, senior Paige Mills for principles of business management, and sophomore Colby Vaughan for principles of hospitality and tourism.

The DECA team is moving forward to state competition in Virginia Beach on March 2nd through the 4th.