Fort Mill, SC – The Fort Mill High School DECA team has concluded an outstanding year, culminating in a strong showing at the recent International Career Development Conference (ICDC) held in Orlando, FL. Ten exceptional students from Fort Mill earned the opportunity to participate in the prestigious event, which was the largest international DECA conference to date, bringing together 26,000 members from across the globe. The Fort Mill High School business department proudly celebrates the entire DECA team’s accomplishments.
In an impressive achievement, Aubrey Heaton secured a Top #10 world ranking for her Franchise Business Plan. Her dedication, determination, and passion for the project were lauded, with countless hours spent outside of school crafting a comprehensive 20-page business plan detailing the process of purchasing and franchising the retail store Uptown Cheapskate. Her outstanding written plan was further enhanced by a professional and enthusiastic 15-minute sales presentation delivered to potential investors, showcasing her hard work and poise on the international stage.
Additionally, Vylette Ebrahimi earned recognition by placing in the Top #10 for her Principles of Hospitality and Tourism Core Exam.
The following Fort Mill DECA students also represented the school at the International Career Development Conference:
- Arnav Meshram and Brady Seeger – Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making
- Baker Tolentino – Principles of Business Management and Administration
- Campbell Ayers – Hotel and Lodging Management
- Francesca Goggans – Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling
- Joshua King – Entrepreneurship
- Kinsley Young and Ally Sengar – Thrive Leadership Academy
Adding to the Fort Mill contingent, Christy Tolentino and Jennifer Molnar served as ICDC Judges, gaining valuable experience at the international competition.
For those unfamiliar with the organization, DECA (formerly Distributive Education Clubs of America) prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges worldwide. Students interested in joining DECA typically need to have successfully completed a business course and receive a recommendation from a business teacher.
