WILLIAMSBURG — Lafayette High School freshmen Cameron Hudson, a member of the Lafayette High DECA Marketing Club chapter, earned first place in Principles of Finance at the DECA district level. Next step: State.
Hudson will compete at the DECA State Leadership Conference in Virginia Beach March 3-4.
According to its website, the DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) mission is to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.
The DECA club at Lafayette High School meets regularly to study marketing concepts. It is in the process of rebuilding after a pause caused by the pandemic, resulting in a later start than normal for club activities. Despite the setback, it was able to support Hudson, as well as Tania Arora, who placed third in Entrepreneurship at regionals.
“It’s exciting,” Hudson said, when asked hius feelings about getting the opportunity to go to the state conference.
Wyatt Alston, DECA club advisor for Lafayette, believes Hudson will be expected to compete against at least 100 students at the state level.
“But he isn’t worried,” Alston commented on Hudson. “He always stays calm no matter what.”
“I’m very proud of all of the students that just participated,” Alston continued. “We’re just getting started, Cameron jumped in as a freshmen, they studied, they had some practice tests and things. There’s the online portion which [Hudson] did very well on.”
“Then there’s the role play. That’s what’s different about this competition versus others. They give them a business issue or problem, one page, they get 10 minutes to study and then they go in front of a judge and present their ideas. How they would go about resolving it, and each one relates to that area.”
Alston says the only difference between the district and state competitions is the number of role plays Hudson will have to complete. Previously, he was expected to complete one, but at the state conference he will have to do two. An online test is also required.
The DECA State Leadership Conference takes place March 3-4. at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
