By Charles DellaVolpe ‘24, Cameron Ward ‘24, and Noah Granados ‘24
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA Nine members of the DBP DECA Club had the opportunity to compete in the 2024 DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC).
Competing at this event did not appear overnight. These DBP DECA members went through intense training and practice to qualify at the international level. In the beginning of the year, alongside over 100 DBP DECA members, these students competed at DECA Districts, the first competition in attempting to qualify for ICDC. Taking place at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey, DBP DECA set a new record with 43 members qualifying for the state competition set to take place just a few weeks later.
The three-day state competition in Atlantic City, NJ consisted of unique networking opportunities for DBP DECA. Despite these events and opportunities that students can embark on, the competitors all had their eyes on a top-seven finish in order to qualify for ICDC.
Six students were able to place as finalists, earning a spot at ICDC: Charles DellaVolpe in the Marketing Communications Event, Cameron Ward in Financial Consulting, Thijs Weinkauf in Business Services Marketing, Griffin Bobnick in Account Applications, Julius Viray in Business Finance, and Noah Granados in Sports & Entertainment Marketing.
Alongside three other DBP DECA students chosen as ambassadors to represent Don Bosco and the State of New Jersey — Jason Manzella, Thomas Harle, and Noel Montero — the students commenced their journey to California. With both parent and teacher chaperones, these students arrived at the place they’d dreamt of: Anaheim.
It all began at the Sheraton Hotel. Filled with all of New Jersey’s top DECA competitors, the hotel provided many beautiful amenities. It was here that the Don Bosco students spent most of their free time, socializing, networking, meeting new people, hydrating with plenty of water, and, the favorite: sunbathing. Aside from time spent at the hotel, California did not disappoint. The students got to try renowned food stops In-N-Out and Raising Canes, along with trips to the local breakfast café and steakhouses before and after competitions. A visit to Universal Studios also served as a highlight to the trip, where DECA Night at the Park allowed for rides, food, and gorgeous views.
However, we all know that, as Bosco students, the priority lies in the academic competition. Our students competed against over 22,000 students from across the globe in their events. Competition consisted of a rigorous schedule: 6:30 in the morning wakeups, hour-long tests, and intense role plays in front of expert judges. Facing the best young business minds in the world was not an easy task, but our Ironmen displayed resilience and focus in giving their best efforts towards achieving DECA glass. Although, in the end, none of the students received an award, they learned valuable lessons in life and business that will serve them well in the future.
All said, ICDC was an incredible journey for all of us. It wasn’t just about the competition, it was about strengthening our bond as the Bosco Brotherhood and having a great time together. While our results in the competition may not have been what we hoped for, we still walked away richer in knowledge about both business and life. Looking ahead, the future of the Don Bosco DECA chapter is bright. We’re not just growing in numbers, but also in our standards for competing. DECA has become the powerhouse club at our school (being the biggest in size), attracting more members each year and reflecting the growing interest in the business pathway. Our chapter’s reputation is continuing to improve, especially for our top-notch test-taking skills. With the increasing number of competitors at nationals, it feels like just a matter of time before we celebrate another national finalist, or maybe even a champion. As our chapter continues to grow the sky is truly the limit for us.