EPHS DECA Students Prepare for States After a Big Year

Congratulations to Elmwood Park High School’s Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) students for their recent successes in competition and community fundraising! 

The team gave an outstanding performance in this year’s West Suburban DECA Sectional Competition, and seven EPHS DECA students placed in the top 10 in their respective categories and will advance to the state competition in early March:

• Alexandria Butler, Freshman — 7th place, Principles of Hospitality and Tourism
• Natalia Ciura, Fenior — 6th place, Personal Financial Literacy
• Justus Escarpita, Senior — 2nd place, Business Finance Services
• Zayd Lahlou-Nabil, Sophomore — 8th place, Quick Service Restaurant Management
• Michelle Sapeta, Senior — 6th place, Apparel and Accessories Marketing
• Olivia Shipinski, Senior — 4th place, Automotive Services Marketing
• Karolina Wojdyla, Junior — 10th place, Hotel Lodging Management

Sectionals were held Friday, Jan. 17, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Students competed in their subject-matter knowledge via written exams and role-playing exercises.

Besides competing, each year Elmwood Park High School’s DECA students organize Spike For A Cause, a night of faculty/staff volleyball matches and other fun activities, to raise money to fight Alzheimer’s disease. The event featured volleyball matches between faculty and staff from each of District 401's schools, with Elm Middle School winning the traveling trophy for the second year.

DECA presents an honorary check to the Alzheimer's Association

The event took place on Nov 7 and raised $7,000, ranking 17th in the nation for an Alzheimer’s fundraising event this year! The Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association was so impressed that they recently sent Sharon Connolly, Development Manager of the Alzheimer's Association’s community fundraising branch, to EPHS to recognize DECA’s efforts in-person.

“It’s a phenomenal group of kids, and they did a phenomenal job,” Connolly said after receiving the students' ceremonial check. “All the money we raise goes to advance our cause.”

Next up for DECA will be the state competition, which will be held as part of the Illinois DECA Career Development Conference March 6-8 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont. Good luck EPHS!