Edison High’s DECA chapter made its mark at the State Career Development Conference (SCDC) in Atlantic City from March 4 to 6. The chapter secured eleven qualifiers for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC), nineteen state finalists, and eleven mini-award winners. The students competed at Harrah’s Hotel and showcased their business skills in various individual and team competitive events.

“It was a great experience competing at such a high level,” Hrishi Shah ‘26 said. “The energy in the room when results were announced was crazy, and seeing our chapter do so well made it even better.”

The competition featured rounds of presentations, case studies, and roleplays, testing students on their business knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

“I think DECA is just a great club to really improve public speaking, test taking, and critical thinking abilities and that everyone should give it a try if given the opportunity,” said Samyuktha Vijayakumar Nair ‘26.

For most students, qualifying for ICDC resulted from months of preparation and effort.

“You never know what kind of case study you’ll get,” Kunwar said. “It really pushes you to think fast and stay confident in your answers.”

“When they called my name, I couldn’t believe it at first,” Talugula said. “My group and I spent so much time practicing for the group event, so making it to ICDC felt amazing.”

Beyond the Competition

Of course, the experience was not just about competing. Outside of presentation rooms and preparing for roleplays with roommates, the students enjoyed the food and bonding with other chapter members.

“The best part was hanging out with everyone after the events were over,” Talati said. “Whether it was going out to eat or just talking about how our events went, it made the whole trip worth it.”

“Beyond the competition, I had a great time spending time with my friends and getting to take a short break from school before the AP grind begins,” said Nair.

DECA at SCDC also allowed the students to meet with other delegates statewide. This opportunity helped them create new friendships, create an open mind for new ideas, and enjoy their time together.

“I thought the competition was very fun overall and I feel it was a great opportunity to network and meet new people,” said Nair. “I think that competing against some of the best in the state is simply incredible and pushes you to perform at your best as well.”

“I really enjoyed meeting other DECA delegates and seeing their perspectives. There were many fun activities and I was very happy to see my peers be rewarded for their hard work,” said Kunwar.

Among the standout performers included the ICDC Qualifiers:

Divya Krishna ‘25 – PEN 2nd
Archana Maryada ‘25 – AAM 2nd
Ishaan Kunwar ‘26 – EBG 3rd
Samyuktha Vijayakumar Nair ‘26 – RFSM 3rd
Hrishi Shah ‘26 – SEM 3rd
Siya Bhuteja ‘26 – HTPS 5th
Annalise Dantes ‘26 and Rucha Deshmukh ‘26 – FOR 5th
Vedant Talati ‘25 and Zashaan tahaqqum Shaik ‘25 – HTDM 6th
Divya Krishna ‘25 and Archana Maryada ‘25 – FOR 7th
Muaadh Inamul Hassan ‘26 – SEM 7th

Mini Award Winners:
Nischal Talugula ‘27
Vedant Talati ‘25 and Zashaan tahaqqum Shaik ‘25
Sarvesh Premkumaar ‘25 and Arnold Zamora ‘25
Siya Bhuteja ‘26
Annalise Dantes ‘26
Shriaditi Kancherla ‘26
Samyuktha Vijayakumar Nair ‘26
Adithya Kattimani ‘28
Hrishi Shah ‘26

New Leadership & A Big Milestone

This year marked a transition for Edison DECA, with Mr. Steven Sharp taking over as the club’s new advisor. His efforts were quickly recognized, as he received a ten-year service award for his dedication to DECA.

“This year’s SCDC was super fun and I had a blast hanging out with friends,” said Zamora. “In terms of competition, EHS DECA did very well this year despite our small numbers. I would like to give a huge shoutout to our new EHS DECA Advisor, Mr. Sharp, who did an incredible job despite this being his first year advising the club.”

The chapter also acknowledged the contributions of Ms. Lynne Tierney, the previous advisor, who helped build the program into what it is today.

“Ms. Tierney was such a big part of our success over the years,” Hassan said. “Even though she’s moved on, she left behind a legacy that we all appreciate.”

Looking Ahead – ICDC in Orlando

At the ICDC, over ten thousand DECA members worldwide will compete in their respective events, demonstrating their skills in business, marketing, finance, and more.

Qualifiers are now preparing for the 2025 DECA ICDC, which will take place from April 26 to 29 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. As Edison High’s 2025 DECA Chapter comes near the closing event, students reflect on their experiences at SCDC, whether they moved on to the next stage of competition or not.