Connecticut DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) hosted a virtual state conference for the second year due to COVID-19. With over 58 chapters and 2,500 student competitors and advisors, CT DECA kept its tradition of competing alive despite the challenges of hosting large-scale events.
Granby Memorial High School DECA is in its seventh year as a registered chapter under the leadership of business teachers Jeff Stanwood and Sue Clark.
GMHS students receiving recognition at the state level this year were: Chase Alexander, second place in Financial Consulting; Alexa Bajek and Isabella Garbeck, second place in Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making; Noah Kroninger, second place in Financial Consulting; Eekansh and Eepsitha Muppasani, second place in Start-Up Business Plan; Ryan Ziskin, second place in Integrated Product Marketing; Natalie Ehrenwerth, Natalie Scanlon and Ally McDonald, third place in Franchise Business Plan; Griffin Carey, sixth place in Business Services Marketing Series. Jeff Stanwood was honored for his 10 years as a DECA advisor.
This year the chapter had 25 competing members, each completing and submitting a video recording on the state competition day, March 1. A week later, the video awards ceremony was held and the 11 GMHS students were announced as winners in their respective competitive events.
This year, the club will be graduating around 20 of its experienced members, and is hoping to rebuild its underclassmen base. After emerging from two years of uncertainty due to COVID, the club has seen a drop in membership state-wide, as well as at GMHS. DECA is hoping to bring its membership up to where it was pre-COVID and to continue to nurture and grow students into bettering their understanding of the business world. DECA provides many opportunities for students to grow personally as well as further explore their interests.