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Hornell’s future business leaders head to NY State DECA competition, watch WRRS video

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Four Hornell students will be competing and learning this week in Rochester

By Andrew Harris

Tomorrow, three Hornell High School Seniors and one motivated eight grade student will travel north to compete at the DECA State Career Conference will be held at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center from March 9-11, 2022. 

Hornell’s own WRRS created this video, featuring lead anchor Tyler Rankl interviewing the DECA superstars about the competition. Watch several familiar faces in the Hornell school hallways wish the four standout students good luck:

The Hornell Sun asked the DECA team advisor Pam Wendel about the club, the event in Rochester, the students who are preparing to be the business leaders of the future.

Can you explain what DECA is? 

Wendel DECA stands for Distributive Education Club of America, a marketing/business club. The Hornell club also helps run our school store when we have students who can work it and get some real life experience running a business.

How does a typical DECA meet play out ? 

Regionals was held this year at Alfred State College for the first time and my top 3 winners will attend the States. I am also bringing President of DECA this year, to the DECA State Career Conference. They do an online test based on a cluster exam and then present role play in person to a judge. 

Can you give some examples of the questions/problems presented to students? 

Role plays are a business type situation where they have to come up with a solution. Once there they get 10 minutes to prepare their ideas which they can then bring in with them to the judge. Each is different based on their event. There are many events. There are team events, individual events, manuals which some are preparing for months to present. 

Could you provide some specific accomplishments/strengths/big moments for each student?  

These students have great communication skills and some of them have had Business courses under their belts so they should be in a good position this week.

Our chapter President, Jane Spitulnik is a 4 year DECA member and she will be the first here at Hornell to be eligible to be inducted into the DECA Honor Society (she had to meet certain requirements.) Her sister Vivi in 2020 would have been my first student to ever to compete at Internationals but the pandemic interfered and she was not able to go.

Kenneth Robinson is a 2 year DECA member and our Vice President. He was the Junior Business award recipient last year. He and Jane are doing a team event in Entrepreneurship.

Caylin Young is a first year member and she is participating in the Food marketing event.

Mia Nasca is a first year member, an 8th grader, and her event is Hotel & Lodging.

I am very excited to finally have students be able to compete in person and being able to have this awesome experience!

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