Fort Mill High School DECA Shines at State Convention, Heads to Internationals

The future of business is bright in Fort Mill.

Fort Mill High School (FMHS) DECA recently returned from the South Carolina DECA State Leadership Conference, where they faced off against a record-breaking field of 3,500 students from across the Palmetto State. In what was the largest conference in the organization’s history, the Yellow Jackets didn’t just compete—they excelled.

Displaying “next level” growth and professionalism, 15 FMHS students secured Top 3 finishes in their respective categories. These elite performers have now earned the prestigious opportunity to represent both their school and the state of South Carolina at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Atlanta this April.

The Champions: First Place Finishes

Fort Mill’s presence was felt most strongly at the top of the podium, with five students taking home 1st Place honors across diverse business sectors:

• Zach Larner – Personal Financial Literacy

• Mukil Palaniselvam – Principles of Finance

• Quinlan O’Toole – Principles of Entrepreneurship

• Lincoln Greene – Principles of Hospitality and Tourism

• Maanya Malhotra – Principles of Marketing

Silver Excellence: Second Place Finishes

The depth of the FMHS team was on full display in the 2nd Place category, which included several high-impact community and school-based projects:

• Abby Schueren – Principles of Business Management and Administration

• Bryce Wilson – Principles of Finance

• Izzy Zook – Principles of Hospitality and Tourism

• Joshua King – Entrepreneurship

• Baker Tolentino – Human Resources Management

• Vylette Ebrahimi – Project Management Community Giving (Sweets for Survivors)

• Campbell Ayers, Kennedy Cullings, & Francesca Goggans – Project Management Sales Project (FMHS / DECA Annual Powder Puff Fundraiser)

Rounding Out the Top Three

• Ally Sengar – 3rd Place in Marketing Communication

Professionalism and Leadership

While the hardware is impressive, the FMHS DECA advisors and school community are equally proud of how the students conducted themselves throughout the grueling weekend of competition.

“The growth, teamwork, and leadership they demonstrated at this conference was next level,” school officials noted. “From early mornings to intense competition rounds, they showed up prepared, professional, and confident.”

As these 15 students prepare for the international stage in Atlanta next month, they carry with them the reputation of one of the strongest business and leadership programs in the region.