Students Brave Ice, Win Awards
In State DECA Competition

Eleven Business Management students. One Culinary Arts student. Two advisors.

One major snow and ice storm. Five large window displays. Luggage for twelve teenagers. Two vans and a bus. Three days of tests and role plays. Fun. Laughter. Success and near-success. Medals and certificates.

Putting these all together gives a snapshot of Randolph Technical Career Center’s involvement in the DECA state competition March 5-7 at the Sheraton Conference Center in Burlington.

Each student competes in a number of events during the three-day competition. All take lengthy general knowledge and business math tests. Liz Carpenter received an honorable mention for her excellent score on the math test.

Prior to attending the conference, five teams of RTCC students created window or floor displays which they transported to Burlington. There they competed against 21 other teams for display excellence and general display knowledge. Carpenter again received an honorable mention in the written test. Carpenter and partner Rachel MacAdams received a second place award for their birthday party display in the 4’ x 4’ Open Competition, where the display must be viewed from all four sides.

In the Team Window Competition, students create a 4’ x 6’ display. Nick Billings and Justin Zuber’s paintball company team received an honorable mention for the display, as well as an honorable mention overall. Kim LaPlante and Kaczmarek’s 1950’s ice cream parlor received an honorable mention for their display. Matt Messier was awarded second place for his written test, while he and partner Miriam Abu Shuraija received third place for their display, and second place overall for their French restaurant.

In addition to the displays and tests, all students participated in two individual role-plays in which they attempted to resolve customer relations and product service problems. Nearly all RTCC students were recognized for their excellence in these competitions. In accounting, Messier received second place in the written test, the role play, and overall.

In the automotive services competition, Billings was awarded an honorable mention for the written test, and third place overall. Caleb Doney’s scores were sufficient to rank him second in the role play and honorable mention overall. MacAdams received honorable mention for her Product Services role play.

Honorable mentions were received by Abu Shuraija in role play for business Services, and by Tyler Totten in food marketing overall. Kaczmarek placed in all parts of hotel management with third place finishes in the written test and role play, and honorable mentions role play and overall. May Covington’s third place finishes in two different role plays resulted in a second place finish overall. Michelle Kaczmarek and Matthew Messier participated in the public speaking competition, and Erica Ward in marketing management.

Competition is especially intense in the retail merchandising area. Johnson & Wales College provides scholarships to those who compete and place. Carpenter placed first in the written test, second in the human resources role play, and third overall. She will receive a $500 scholarship every year if she chooses to attend.

Advisors Jan Stratton and Jerry Sullivan said that the successes of these students prove how hard they have worked this year.

"These students are all to be commended," Stratton commented.