Home Washington Twp. News DECA students place high at national conference

DECA students place high at national conference

WTHS named finalist at International Career and Development Conference

DECA co-advisor Alexandria McBride, Taylor Crowley, Christina Franks, Matt Logiovino, Rob Minnick, Jaime Miller, Kade Cornelius, Frank Romean (with trophy), Ally Gracie, Joe Rotella, Bridget Heist, Stephen Cozzone, Jon Dalesandro, Kristina Argerakis, Alicia Radke and DECA co-advisor Sara Simpson posed for a group photo at the conference.

For the first time in more than a decade, Washington Township High School had more than one student honored as a finalist at the International Career and Development Conference held in Anaheim, Calif. This year was also the first time the school has had a student place as a winner, with Washington Township High School senior Frank Romean placing second in the world.

In the sports and entertainment-marketing category, Romean earned a silver ribbon for top test and top role-play. Sophomore partners Kade Cornelius and Taylor Crowley finished as finalists in the marketing management team decision-making competition.

The DECA team competed against students from all 50 states and 10 countries. Although only 14 members made the trip to the international conference, the club, under the direction of co-advisors and Washington Township High School teachers Alexandria McBride and Sara Simpson, was recognized as the largest chapter in New Jersey for the third consecutive year with approximately 335 members.

In the role-play portion of the competition, students are given a prompt and have 10 minutes to prep their response and solution. They are only allowed to use scrap paper that is provided during this time.

Romean, a member of DECA since his freshman year, says he followed a formula he created to compete in the event.

“I read the prompt, start brainstorming, fold pieces of paper and make a fake PowerPoint, and start with a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats),” Romean said. “Then, I draw a cup of coffee on the piece of paper and hand it to the judge to start off a good relationship with them. Depending on the prompt, I’ll give the PowerPoint presentation on what I think fits the best.”

Along with the role-play, students are required to complete a 100-question written test in marketing principles.

“They literally have no idea what they’ll be faced with when they sit down at the table, so just being able to handle that stress and be able to think on their feet is a great benefit,” McBride said. “They’ll be able to take that, not just to college interviews and job interviews, but being able to network.”

Cornelius and Crowley worked as a team in their role-play portion of the competition and said their teamwork and strategy are what helped them through answering questions creatively.

“We have a system where if we don’t know a question we tap each other, and you just have to hope you don’t tap each other at the same time,” Cornelius said.

On the left, WTHS DECA co-advisors Sara Simpson (left) and Alexandria McBride (right) posed with finalist Taylor Crowley (second from left) and Kade Cornelius (second from right). On the right, WTHS DECA co-advisors Sara Simpson (left) and Alexandria McBride (right) posed with second-place finisher Frank Romean at the DECA conference.

“I think we have a good strategy,” Crowley said. “There’s never an awkward silence; one person always picks up where the other left off.”

During their free time, the students said they enjoyed meeting and networking with people from around the world who shared common interests as them.

“We were at one of the vendors and we met all of these people from China, Canada, California,” Crowley said. “It was really neat because we all share the same common interest and it was a really unique experience. I’ve never experienced anything like it before.”

Crowley said before joining DECA, she was shy and struggled talking with people. After competing in regionals last year, however, she said she became more comfortable and confident to open up about herself, a skill that recently helped her receive a job offer. Cornelius said because of DECA, he is now considering a career in business.

Romean, who has his own eBay company buying and selling baseball cards, was recently accepted on a full scholarship to Temple University’s Fox School of Business Honors Program. He will be pursuing a double major in entrepreneurship and marketing.

Additional WTHS participants included Kristina Argerakis, Jon Dalesandro, Christina Franks, Allison Gracie, Bridget Heist, Matt Logiovino, Jaime Miller, Rob Minnick, Alicia Radke and Joe Rotella. Stephen Cozzone also earned a silver ribbon for top test in marketing.

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