7 Plainfield Students To Compete In International DECA Conference

PLAINFIELD, IL — Seven Plainfield School District 202 students are heading to Florida to compete at the international DECA conference, officials announced.

The DECA — formerly known as the Distributive Education Clubs of America —International Career Conference, taking place from April 22-25 in Orlando, Florida, is referred to by participants as the "Super Bowl" of DECA events. There, the Plainfield high schoolers will compete with thousands of other students from across the United States and the world.

More than 50 students from Plainfield North and East high schools competed at the state competition in March, with seven qualifying for the international conference.

Plainfield North business education teacher Liam McKenna, in his ninth year serving as the school's DECA advisor, said the organization provides students with various great opportunities.

Angelina Hane, Plainfield East's DECA advisor of 16 years, said she is "so proud of all PEHS DECA students and their accomplishments this year."

Here's a look at the seven students who advanced to the international conference.

Plainfield North High School

• Jackson Dunn, junior: Entrepreneurship team decision-making
• Iniya Mani, sophomore: Financial consulting event
• Sydney Pavlik, junior: Entrepreneurship team decision-making
• Tharun Veeraiah, sophomore: Financial operations research

Plainfield East High School

• Haroon Arain, junior: Automotive service marketing
• Valery Espinoza, junior: Restaurant and food service marketing
• Jocelyn Trotter, senior: Apparel and accessories marketing