In its first year as an official club, the Old Rochester Regional High School DECA club had two students qualify to compete at the International Career Development Conference in Nashville. alongside 21,000 other students from around the country.

The Distributive Education Club of America prepares student leaders in business and marketing subjects through competitions.

Freshman Teddy Carroll will  compete in the hotel and lodging management category and ORR DECA club Co-president Eddie Gonet qualified in principles of business administration and management.

From Feb. 27 to 29, a group of 19 students traveled to the Hynes Convention Center in Boston to compete at the state level among 3,500 other students.

Gonet, who placed second in his category, said that the competition was a little challenging without a formal business class at ORR, but that the group came prepared.

“Somehow, we’re doing something right,” said Gonet.

A judge gave each student two prompts and ten minutes to prepare pitches for both.

Gonet, a sophomore, received prompts about professional development for teachers and supply and demand, while Carroll brainstormed how to attract tourists to the Bahamas and how to increase revenue at hotels. 

After an okay performance at regionals, Carroll, who also placed second in his category, set out to try his best at states, but “didn’t expect to get this far.”

Gonet received high praise from his judge who told him that his pitches were some of the best he has seen.

The judge was also impressed by his delivery, who said that “if you don’t go into business, go into journalism and be a news anchor.” 

10th grade chemistry teacher and club Co-moderator Alyssa Whitney said that when the awards were announced at the grand awards ceremony, all the students were screaming and cheering for their fellow club members who placed.

Whitney said that she’s “very surprised to be so successful so quickly” and hopes that this will motivate ORR to start a business class.

The competition also gave students the opportunity to mingle with fellow competitors around the state, with organized events like a dance and karaoke.

Gonet and Carroll will compete in Nashville from April 29 to May 3, and club members Brendan Burke, David Ditata and Conner Garcia will represent ORR at the coinciding learning conference at ICDC.