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Local Students Place in Competition |
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Monday, 30 March 2009 |
By MARY BARGDILL
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Four DECA students from a local high school who placed in a state competition will advance to Nationals later this spring.
Memorial High School seniors Chelsea Moore, Katie Heitkamp, Kortnee Hardin and Ashley Bupb were among 32 juniors and seniors who competed in Districts at Bluffton University at the end of January. Of those DECA students who attended districts, 17 students progressed to the state competition held at the Hyatt Regency and Convention Center in Columbus March 13 and 14.
The students participated in activities related to various areas of marketing.
“Some of them have tests in case studies to present to judges,” Memorial High School Marketing Teacher Heidi Lisi said. “Some have written projects and presentations to give.”
Moore, Heitkamp and Hardin delivered a presentation on fashion merchandising and promotions. The team members had to promote a month-long promotional plan for a retail store. They had to include objectives and create a budget.
The students also had to list media sources they would utilize to market their store and create a list of responsibilities for store employees.
“What it would take to make that plan happen,” Lisi said. “They also took in a clothing rack as an example of a display they would use as a form of promotion they would use in their store.”
The students were also required to write a research paper on their topic.
“We acted like sales associates with Bridal Emporium,” Moore said. “We used catchy themes to catch the shoppers’ eye. Each week we had a different sale, promotion or event that was going on.”
Two of the students’ main objectives were to attract new customers and retain current customers.
“This is one of the best presentations I’ve ever seen,” Lisi said. “It’s very impressive coming out of a bunch of high school students.”
Moore, Heitkamp and Hardin placed sixth in state for the category of Fashion Group.
Bupb, along with Heitkamp and Hardin, placed third in state for chapter management.
Lisi said the students were judged on skills such as leadership, public relations, community service and vocational understanding on events they had participated in during the school year.
“(Judges) look at all the activities we did as a DECA chapter this year,” she said.
“With each activity they had to write a report and evaluate it, and then present it.”
Documentation of the report included pictures and programs.
“These projects that they did were college level projects,” Lisi said.
The four students will advance to nationals which will be held April 28 through May 2 in Anaheim, Calif.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 15 April 2009 )
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