Giving high school students an opportunity to explore entrepreneurial concepts from idea generation, pitch development, business planning, to having a general understanding of entrepreneurship
The Small Business Development Center of Duquesne University School of Business hosted the DECA District III Career Development Conference at the Duquesne University Student Union Ballroom and the Duquesne University Power Center for the third time on December 11th, 2024.
The high school students present their ideas to experienced judges and get feedback and advice on how they can move forward.
280 students from seven different schools participated in the conference. The schools were:
- Bethel Park
- Freeport
- Highlands
- Norwin
- Taylor Allderdice
- Upper St. Clair
- Valley
The students competed in 28 different events, 20 individual and 8 team events, and the events included: Accounting, Business Financial Services, Business Law & Ethics, Entrepreneurship, Food Marketing Hospitality & Tourism, Marketing Communications, Marketing Management, Restaurant Management, Sports and Entertainment.
The top 3 individuals and top 4 teams in each event automatically qualified for the PA DECA State Career Development Conference (CDC) to be held in Hershey, PA in February, 2024. Nearly 3,000 PA DECA Members will compete at the State CDC. The top 5 students per event at the State CDC will qualify to compete at the International DECA Conference to be held in Orlando, FL in April 2025.
Every day, more than 4,700 students in over 80 chapters aspire to become the next generation of leaders in a global economy. Through active membership in Pennsylvania DECA, students prepare for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Valuing teamwork, integrity, and a desire to thrive on success, students participate in more than 50 competency-based competitive events, scholarships, educational conferences, campaigns, initiatives, and school-based enterprises. Educational experience gained inside the classroom is applied to real-world business problems amplified by passionate students working towards a positive future.
Good luck to all the students moving forward!