Buchholz High School students from the Academy of Entrepreneurship recently competed at the DECA International Career Development Conference in Orlando with impressive results. The Virtual Business Retailing team of Chris Wolfe and Ian Lowe (both 9th graders) placed 3rd overall in a tournament-type computer simulation against over 700 initial contestants, operating a sporting apparel/equipment store, a grocery store, and an electronics store.
Other winners were:
- Top 10 Ethan Bush – Personal Financial Literacy (role play and test)
- Top 10 Israel Mobley, Sydney Steinberg, Sophia Vanderschoot – School-Based Enterprise (30-page paper and oral presentation regarding The Spirit Spot operations)
- Top 10 Nick Bennett, Alex Smock, Isabella Whelan – Learn and Earn Project (30-page paper and oral presentation regarding a 5K Run fundraiser)
- Top 10 Dominic Marchese – Marketing Career Cluster (test score)
- Top 20 C. J. Francis, Conner Phillips, Ally Nichols – Financial Literacy Promotion Project (30-page paper and oral presentation about teaching financial lessons at elementary schools)
The Buchholz DECA chapter was recognized for achieving the highest level in four chapter campaigns: Promotional Campaign, Community Service Campaign, Membership Campaign, and DECA Advocacy Campaign. Additionally, the Buchholz school store, The Spirit Spot, achieved Gold Level certification for the eleventh consecutive year by submitting detailed documentation demonstrating adherence to ten broad categories of marketing and retail standards.
The Learn and Earn Project was a 5K run held in November to benefit The Einstein School, which had suffered a 20 percent loss in funding from government sources. Altogether the students raised over $4,700 from their project.
