East Aurora High Marketing Student To Compete At International Competition

Press release from East Aurora School District 131:

AURORA, IL — For years, students involved in DECA have worked to articulate their mastery of industry-based skills–such as finance, marketing, hospitality, entrepreneurship, and management–through competitive events at the regional level.

East Aurora High School has long had students compete in such events, where business professionals serve as judges and offer evaluative feedback. DECA involvement allows students to participate in a social program that offers professional learning and knowledge accrual that prepares them for post-secondary choices — whatever they may be.

The DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) is a yearly conference in which over 20,000 high school students, advisors, former DECA competitors, post-secondary professionals, and more gather as current students compete in DECA’s Competitive Events Program or Emerging Leader Series.

This year, senior student Lorena Alvarez placed fourth overall in the state-based DECA competition in Marketing Communications, positioning her to compete at this year’s ICDC competition in Atlanta, Georgia.

At the conference in April, Alvarez will join 14,000 other high school finalists who will similarly compete for international honors. A key benefit to participating in DECA events is the gateway to post-secondary organizations like colleges, universities, and businesses that offer students insight into job, study, and volunteer opportunities that support or supplement their academic and personal interests.

Alvarez has competed in DECA’s Marketing Communications all four years while at East Aurora High School, placing in the top 10 during the 2020-2021 school year.

This year, Lorena also received the Honor Award from the Illinois Foundation for Marketing Education.

The Honor Award is given to seniors in DECA who have a 3.2/4.0 GPA, are active in their chapter, hold leadership positions in other organizations, and participate in at least three community service works during their time in school. In addition to serving as the president of East High’s DECA chapter, Lorena is a Student Board Member, the President of National Honor Society, and involved in Marching and Concert Band, Science National Honor Society, and Tri-M Music Honor Society.

Good luck to you, Lorena!

This press release was produced by East Aurora School District 131. The views expressed here are the author’s own.