Cape Hatteras Secondary School’s DECA Team Ranks Among Top 20 Worldwide at International Competition
Three marketing students from Cape Hatteras Secondary School’s (CHSS) DECA Club placed in the top 20 worldwide in the Community Giving category at the DECA International Career Development Conference in Anaheim, California.
DECA club members Kristin Bennett, Ann Lord, and Emma Riggs presented their Coastal Care Packs, a project aimed to support children in foster care, at the international competition on April 28. CHSS’ team project stood out amongst the competition for its care and creativity in addressing a critical need for children in the foster care system.
The inspiration behind the project stemmed from Ann Lord’s personal experience in foster care and desire to make the challenging and often abrupt transition to a foster home a smoother process for foster children and host families. The DECA team collaborated with Dare County Social Services and local foster families to determine which care items were needed for various age groups. The team then partnered with the community to raise funds and collect donation items to fill their backpacks.
Darren Moore, CHSS Marketing Teacher and DECA Advisor, emphasized the transformative impact of the initiative, stating, “It gives them a feeling of ownership of something when entering a home that they are not familiar with. The backpacks contain all the essentials they need for themselves. It contains toiletries, and many other accessories to give them the feeling of having something of their own.”
CHSS’ DECA team was the only school from North Carolina to advance to the final round of the Community Giving competition. Although CHSS’ team did not place in the top three, the team ranked in the top 20 internationally against 180 teams in the Community Giving category. They competed with over 23,000 students from around the world in their conference.
Reflecting on the dedication of the team, Moore said, “These young ladies have worked hard this whole school year on their project. They have made a significant contribution, impact, and awareness to the importance of foster children in Dare County.”
Dare County Schools would like to congratulate CHSS’ DECA team members and advisors Darren Moore and Suzanne Jennette on their hard work success. The district would also like to thank Dr. Shannon Castillo, director of career and technical education (CTE), and the CTE department for their support.
“I am in awe of this remarkable DECA team,” expressed Dr. Castillo. “Our students were up against schools from all over the country and world. They dared to dream big, and their success shows that despite being a small team from a small school, they can make a huge difference in the lives of others. Words can’t describe how proud we are of their determination, hard work, and achievements!”
About DECA
DECA club prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. CHSS’ DECA club is advised by Marketing Teacher Darren Moore and Career Development Coordinator Suzanne Jennette.
