Cranford Students Excel at 2020 DECA State Conference

Congratulations to the Cranford High School students who placed in the top six of their events at the New Jersey DECA State Career Development Conference which was held from March 2-4, 2020 in Atlantic City, NJ. This accomplishment allows them to compete at the 2020 DECA International Career Development Conference in Nashville, TN this May. Cranford High School sent 34 students to this conference to compete against more than 5,500 students representing 108 schools from across New Jersey.

The following students will be representing Cranford in Nashville:
2nd Place - Lee & Ryan Rosenthal, Entrepreneurship Team Decision-Making Event
4th Place - Dierdre Tighe & Rachael Durant, Hospitality Services Team Decision-Making Event
4th Place - Robert Kelly, Automotive Services Series Event

Other NJ State Finalists and their events include:

Doris Koury - Principles of Business Management, Finalist
Adam Nataline & Noah Kopla - Travel and Tourism Team Decision Making Event, Finalists

In addition, three students were recognized for outstanding performance in one of their events. These students are:

William Johnson - Hotel and Lodging Management Series, Role Play 1
Griffin Dowd - Quick Serve Restaurant Management Series, Role Play 1
Robert Kelly - Automotive Services Marketing, Role Play 1

Adviser Mrs. Cynthia Keyasko was also recognized for 10 years of service to Cranford High School DECA. Ms. Cathcart quotes,“Students who achieve this level of success have worked hard to hone their communication and problem-solving skills. It has been a joy to work with such talented teens for over 20 years.” Co-adviser, Mrs. Cynthia Keyasko says, “DECA is a great way to prepare our students for the world of marketing, business administration, and entrepreneurship. Their enthusiasm and preparation for this event is fantastic to see.”

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. DECA is a program for business-minded students looking to find real-world applications for what they learn in their business classes. At the conference, students are presented with business scenarios, given a brief amount of time to creatively solve the problem, and role play the solution before a business professional. In addition to the role play, all DECA members are required to take a written test in their chosen area.
Congratulations to all Cranford High School DECA delegates who attended this conference and continued the tradition of pride and success. We look forward to continuing this exceptional learning experience at ICDC in Nashville, TN.