Carly Rinda, the DECA adviser at Carbon Career & Technology Institute, gave the school’s Joint Operating Committee an update on the student organization that gives students a chance to compete locally, regionally and nationally in a variety of subjects.

Eleven DECA students from CCTI competed in the District competitions held Dec. 16 at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville.

Grace Politi, Panther Valley, won second place in the Job Interview category. The team of Breena Gracia and Brook Tanasijczuk, Lehighton Area, and Addison Ahner, Palmerton Area, won fourth place in the Chapter Banner event. Lea Yemm from Jim Thorpe Area won fourth place in the Quick Service Restaurant Management event.

“I love how it (DECA) brings out the professionalism in all my students,” Rinda said. “It brings confidence to them.”

The DECA State Competition will be held Feb. 18 to 20 in Hershey. The National Competition will be held April 25 to 28 in Atlanta.

DECA originally stood for Distributive Education Clubs of America, a name reflecting its focus on marketing and business education when it was founded. The organization has evolved and now uses the acronym DECA to represent its broader scope in preparing leaders for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.

Rinda has stated that after several years this year a student is interested in competing in Chapter Awards. Heather Neff, committee chair, offered her assistance in preparation as this is an area she competed in while attending CCTI.