State Competition Success! 

From March 7 - March 9, 35 Hopedale DECA members competed and participated in the 65th Annual Massachusetts DECA State Career Development Conference in Boston at the Marriott Copley and Hynes Convention Center.  

With close to 3,800 participants statewide, Hopedale students competed against up to 45 competitors per category! 

All Massachusetts competitors qualified for the competition by placing in the top 6 for their events at one of 8 district competitions throughout the state. Hopedale DECA students competed in the project management event where competitors used project management skills to organize events including a financial literacy fair and a career fair for HJSJS students in grades 7 - 12 and a STREAM activities fair for elementary students. 

In the Operations Research category, competitors performed extensive primary and secondary research on a business’s talent management methods and prepared a strategic plan to counteract hiring challenges. Hopedale competitors networked and practiced valuable employability skills that will benefit them both in high school and their future careers. 

Top 10 medalists at the conference included:

Business Services: Nathan Jerrett, CJ Kivlehan

Hospitality and Tourism: Jonas Bernardes, Jose Pomavilla, James Seaver

International Competition - Here We Come! 

Moving on to the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) are 18 Hopedale students bound for Anaheim!  DECA members in attendance will expand their leadership skills and business knowledge while also networking with business professionals and peers from 50 different states, four U.S. territories, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Korea, and more. 

State Champions and members participating in the Emerging Leaders Academy from April 26th - May 1st are as follows:

Project Management Event Champions - Financial Literacy: William Adamski, Matthew Carroll, Kyle Maloney , Sales Project: Riley Mulligan, Kenzie Styles, Aaron Terbush 

Business Operations Research Event Champions - Business Services: Carter Lachiatto, Patrick Madden      

Professional Selling Event Champion: Leah Hodgdon

Leadership Academy Participants: Jonathan Araujo, Nathan Jerrett, CJ Kivlehan, Alex Lannibois, Cody McLain, James Seaver, Hudson Terando

School Based Enterprise Retail Competition: Emma Gosselin, Antonia Rolo

Fundraising Efforts.  

To help make the cost of ICDC more manageable, Hopedale DECA is looking for sponsorships and donations from local businesses and individuals to offset trip expenses. Be on the lookout for upcoming fundraisers posted on Instagram (@hopedale.deca) and Facebook (hopedale.deca)! Details on the sponsorship program can be found at bit.ly/HopedaleICDC2024. Donations payable to Hopedale DECA can be mailed to Hopedale Jr.-Sr. High School, 25 Adin St, Hopedale, MA, 01747 or via UniPay at https://unipaygold.unibank.com/ -> Hopedale Public Schools -> DECA Competition/Sponsorships. Thank you for your consideration in helping the students reach their $16,000 fundraising goal!

Hopedale DECA would like to thank all who made attending the state conference possible, including the officer team, DECA members and competitors, parents, guardians, and HJSHS staff. Thank you also to the 2024 Hopedale DECA State Sponsors who dramatically reduced competitor costs for the event: Leonardo DRS, Altman & Company, and RJG Building and Remodeling. Thank you in advance to the Hopedale community for the continued support of Hopedale DECA member competitions and experiences. Please reach out to Talitha Oliveri, advisor, at [email protected] with questions or to receive additional sponsorship information.