SPHS Business Group Seeking Funds for National Competition

A business group at Severna Park High School called DECA is preparing fundraising efforts for a national competition in Anaheim, CA.

The school will participate in a state competition in Annapolis on March 7-8 and students who finish in first and second place will travel to California for the International Career Development Conference.

“DECA is a school organization that allows students to learn how to be business leaders in their community,” said Bethany Studnicky, senior and president of the SPHS chapter. “Basically it’s a competitive organization in which high school students prepare presentations and then go to a conference to compete.”

The Falcon DECA team usually consists of 30 students but this year SPHS has the largest chapter with 60 competitors, which is why they will need additional funds for the national competition held April 24-27.

Each student that places in the top two at states in March will proceed on to nationals in California, but they must raise the funds themselves.

“Nearly 80 percent of our teams will place first or second in their events, and a lot of kids will have the opportunity to go to nationals this year,” Studnicky said.

In an effort to help reduce the financial burden of the national competition DECA will be holding a Flea Market at the high school on April 6. Community members can rent a space at the market for $20 and then keep the profits from the items they sell. The $20 space fee will go to DECA.

Anyone interested in reserving a spot should contact Studnicky at sphsdeca@gmail.com.