Do you care more about the Super Bowl commercials than the Super Bowl? If so, you would love marketing and the DECA club.
Amy Boscan and John Barnabee help run the student marketing and business club called DECA.
“DECA is a co-curricular club. You join by taking Marketing classes or other approved business classes. In this club, students put their marketing knowledge to plan events for the school and DECA. You also can compete in DECA challenges. It’s such a fun club that gives students the opportunity to become prepared for real-world problems,” Boscan said.
DECA is a student club that gives students real-life marketing experience, different trips and events, DECA challenges, and more.
DECA student and senior Henry Holmes explains why he joined the club.
“It prepares you for a lot of social interactions in the business world,” Holmes said.
Those who joined (mostly everyone in the Marketing classes) got to vote on DECA officers. The 2023-2024 DECA officers are: president Hilary Jumps, vice president Ava Walters, marketing directors Jackson Lange and Lauren Merlo, social chairs Caitlyn Schmitt and Lauren Matlock, secretary Alaina Zerega, and treasurer Michael Arce. Additionally, Olivia Hemminghaus, Avery Tietz, Brandon Perkins, Zach Burch, and Ryan Finnessy are the class representatives.
This group of leaders along with other DECA members work hard to plan events for the club. Some examples were the Halloween pop-up shop or Breakfast for DECA. The club is also planning for future events like a winter/holiday pop-up shop that’s selling hot chocolate and cookies during class and Ac. Lab. They planned a bonfire for Dec. 5 that is for anyone to attend, not just DECA students. Another activity that Marketing Director Jackson Lange planned is to go ice skating. Lauren Merlo and Ava Walters are planning a volunteer and donation drive for kids in hospitals.
Senior Lauren Merlo talks about her volunteer planning.
“We are planning to create a toy drive donation for kids in hospitals. We don’t know the exact details yet but it will take place closer to the New Year,” she says.
Another huge opportunity these kids are given is to visit the Big Apple. Although South hasn’t taken a trip since 2019, it’s been a tradition for DECA to take on New York. From business seminars to seeing the hustle of Times Square or seeing iconic landmarks like the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty, DECA students got the whole New York experience. Just by joining the club, you were given the opportunity to attend.
Senior Caitlyn Schmitt talked about her favorite activities in New York.
“I loved the New York trip, it was jam packed with activities. My favorite was the last night that we were there, when we got to walk around Bryant Park and go ice skating in the middle of it,” she said.
Also, Barnabee shares his experience in New York.
“It was a really awesome experience from being a former student who got to go on the trip then from a teacher’s perspective it was pretty cool to see. Also, it was fun to be in a big city,” he said.
Only DECA students get the chance to go on the New York trip. However, not a lot of students know about DECA.
Senior Izzy Puccio explains how she heard about DECA.
“I heard about it through Mr. Bock. I was really excited to join even though I couldn’t because I was a sophomore,” Puccio said.
Bock retired last year, but the two Marketing teachers and leaders, Boscan and Barnabee, are trying to make underclassmen aware of this club.
“Once you’re a junior or senior, you definitely should take Marketing 1 and Marketing 2 to have the opportunity to join! It’s so much fun!” Boscan said.
