“While in high school from 2013 through 2016, I had the privilege of attending ICDC all three years I was a DECA member. In my first year, I won glass at ICDC in Atlanta for Principles of Finance. The following year I placed Top 10 at ICDC in Orlando for Business Services Marketing. And in my senior year, I won glass again at ICDC in Nashville for Personal Financial Literacy. Having that experience of winning glass as a new DECA member and being able to share it with my chapter members (pictured in the photo I attached) is a memory I will never forget, and has solidified my life-long passion for DECA. My experience as a DECA member encouraged me to pursue a business education in college, graduating from Boston College with a B.S. in Management in 2020, and subsequently pursuing a career in management consulting. I also had such fond memories of DECA that I remain involved in the organization to this day; previously serving as an alumni member, state conference presenter, judge, and now as the Chapter Advisor of Georgetown High School - the school where my DECA journey began. Today I try to instill the skills I learned as a DECA competitor in my students to help ensure their success at competition - hoping to translate the passion that I have onto the next generation of DECA members. I never imagined that joining a "club" (if you can even limit DECA to that) back in high school would lead to so many rewarding, life-long memories that continue to pay dividends long after graduating high school.”

— Michael, when asked about his DECA journey