At New York DECA’s State Career Conference in Rochester, 26 DECA students from the high school competed against over 2,200 of the brightest business students from across the state.

Three Deer Park students – Peter Demopoulos, Shahan Mian and Joseph Sanchez – received trophies the event, held March 4-6, which qualified them to compete at DECA's International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Florida on April 25-28.

The marketing communications team of Demopoulos and Sanchez finished in the top 10 in role play and fifth place overall. Mian finished in the top 10 in role play and principles of finance, earning him fourth place overall.

“Qualifying for the international level of competition is a tremendous accomplishment for any DECA student, let alone three first-year members,” said business teacher and DECA adviser Gregory Menig. “The boys are excited about the opportunity to see how they stack up against other trophy winners from across the country and around the world. This trip will be a tremendous learning experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Five additional Deer Park competitors received medals for their performances at the Rochester conference. Adam Ahmed finished in the top 10 in principles of finance, Alban Astafa finished in the top 10 in restautant and food service management, Nicola Ingrassi earned seventh place overall in the entrepreneurship participating event, Lauren Lazarte finished in the top 10 in principles of hospitality, and Tyler Teng finished in the top 10 in personal financial literacy.