DECA team finds success at states, despite being its first year competing

During the weekend of March 3, 12 members of the DECA club traveled to San Diego to participate in a conference that drew people from all around California.

Organizers held competitions that tested students knowledge of finance and other business principles.

Even though the Saratoga club was new to this conference, they managed to do well in a couple of the competitions.  In particular, sophomores Mervi Tan and Elora Pradhan placed fourth in Marketing Team Decision Making and qualified for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC), to be held on April 23-26 in Nashville, Tenn.

    “I’m really glad I attended states because it was a great opportunity to establish connections,” Pradhan said. “For ICDC, I’m not so worried about placing again. I just want to attend all the workshops and panels and hear what advice professional businessmen have.”

    Other than competing at DECA events, there was also time for students to relax and have fun. For example, students went to a nearby carnival at Mission Beach.

This year was DECA’s first year as a school club since 2014. The club was revived in this year by juniors Naman Sajwan, Saya Sivaram and Nidhi Jain.

    Many club members are already creating plans to revise and improve DECA for next year, giving incoming freshmen a club that they can join and thrive in.

    “I think the club fared well for its first year, although I certainly believe there is a lot to improve on in the bright future for DECA,” Sajwan said.