(Editor's note: The following information was sumbitted by Jim Sullivan, advisor for the DECA program at Tewksbury Memorial High School.)

On the weekend of March 10-12, 2011 the Tewksbury Memorial High School DECA Chapter participated in the Massachusetts State DECA Career Development Conference in Boston. This Conference took place with over 1,500 students throughout the state and was held over three days.

DECA prepares emerging student leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. DECA enhances the preparation for college and careers by providing co-curricular programs that integrate into classroom instruction, applying learning in the context of business, connecting to business and the community and promoting competition.

Our student members leverage their DECA experience to become academically prepared, community oriented, professionally responsible, experienced leaders. Students participate in one of three areas; Individual Events, Team Events, or Written Events. This year, Tewksbury Memorial High School had 29 students qualify for this years Massachusetts State DECA Career Development Conference.

 Competing in Individual Event Categories were the following students; Brian Haley (Restaurant and Food Services Marketing), Nikki Smith (Quick Service Restaurant Management), Lauren Andella (Apparel & Accessories Marketing), Colin Foley (Business Services Management), along with Nick Parsons and Kayla Benvenuto (Food Marketing Services).

     Competing in Team Event Categories were the following students; Lauren Donovan & Hayley Malone as well as Katie Conklin & Jill Humphrey in Business Law and Ethics, Jeff Rauseo & Dan Sugrue in Buying & Merchandising, Michael Layne & Craig Tino, Jennifer Bowers & Rob Wallace, Hannah Sedgwick & Taylor Forgione, and Ryan Casey & Mark Petti in Financial Analysis,  Sean MacLeod and Scott Middleton in Sports & Entertainment, and the Team of Ally Greene, Lizzy Marchand, Craig Semenza, and Nick LaCascia participated in the DECA Quiz Bowl Challenge. Also participating in the Written Event area was the team of Ashley Pereira & Carolyn Phaneuf in the Community Service Project for their work on the TMHS DECA Annual Fashion Show.

All members of the TMHS DECA Chapter attained minimum competency certificates for their performances.

The following five students will move on and participate in the upcoming DECA International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Fla. from April 29 – May 4.

• Brian Haley in the Restaurant and Food Services Marketing – Individual Event
• Ashley Pereira and Carolyn Phaneuf in the Community Service Project – Written Event
• Lauren Donovan & Hayley Malone in the Leadership Academy – Chapter Event

     Congratulations to all those who participated in the District and State Career Development Conferences, also to all the students, teachers and staff members of Tewksbury Memorial High School who have been there to support these students throughout their time at TMHS.

This is a tremendous accomplishment for these students who will be competing with the very best at the International Conference. As you can imagine this is an honor to be competing at this level, but attached to it is also a financial commitment. TMHS DECA is currently seeking donations to help defray the cost to each student to be able to attend this conference. The cost to each student is approximately $1,000 and that is after having already paid $450 to attend the District and State Conference.

If you would like to send a donation to support these students please email the DECA Advisor Mr. Jim Sullivan at jsullivan@tewksbury.k12.ma.us, or you can send a check to Tewksbury Memorial High School, C/O Jim Sullivan DEAC Advisor, 320 Pleasant Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876. Again, congratulations to all TMHS DECA students for their outstanding performance!