WILLIAMSBURG — Williamsburg-James City County Schools recently announced students from Lafayette High School and Warhill High School earned ten top-three finishes at the DECA District Competition, showcasing their skills in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management against students from across the region.
Teams from both schools will compete at the state level next, according to WJCC Schools.
“Our students demonstrated incredible professionalism, preparation, and leadership. Their hard work truly paid off,” said LHS DECA Advisor Lisa Rodriguez.
The division said preparation involved weeks of practicing role-play scenarios, learning how to think on their feet, and getting comfortable speaking professionally under pressure. In addition to the role-play events, students completed a 100-question exam in 60 minutes that assessed their understanding of key marketing concepts such as branding, promotion, pricing, and customer behavior. Final scores were based on a combination of exam results and role-play performance.
Achieving such high scores meant a great deal to the students, the division said, especially as a first-year chapter.
“We worked really hard to prepare, and it felt amazing to see that effort pay off,” said Ryan Hanny, Warhill High School’s DECA Club Executive Officer. “The exam was tough but it really showed us how much we’ve learned so far this year.”
Looking ahead, the division said students are already focused on the next challenge.
“This experience gave us confidence and showed us what we need to work on,” Emily Harris, Warhill High School DECA President, said. “We’re excited to keep practicing and push ourselves even more as we prepare for States.”
Lafayette High School
Principles of Finance Series: First Place — Osteen Mngeremy
Personal Financial Literacy: First Place — Hamilton Juarez
Principles of Entrepreneurship: First Place — Hamilton Juarez
Food Marketing Series: First Place — Hajar Khadare, Second Place — Gabriel Maxwell
Warhill High School
Principles of Marketing: First Place — Victoria Freeman, Second Place — Finley Knaul, Third Place — Emily Harris
Sports and Entertainment Series: First Place — Gabriel Palacios, Second Place — Ryan Hanny
According to WJCC Schools, DECA is an international career and technical student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Through competitions, leadership conferences, and real-world learning experiences, DECA helps students develop critical skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and professional decision-making.
