The Niles North High School DECA chapter competed in the Virtual IL-Career Development Conference throughout the months of January and February. The Grand Awards Ceremony was broadcast virtually on March 6, 2021. Over 1,500 students competed this year, which makes it the largest competitive conference in Illinois DECA history. DECA attracts individuals to productive careers in entrepreneurship, marketing, management, hospitality, finance, business administration, and sales and merchandising. There are over 3,700 members in Illinois DECA.
This year’s national campaign of DECA “#NextLevel” was exactly what this conference has been for the Niles North DECA Chapter! Even though Niles North had been remote during the entire competitive season, 35 students took their learning to the #NextLevel by competing in either various interactive role play or written project events. These students are truly exceptional and should be congratulated on a successful competitive season.
Of the 35 competitors, 32 earned Top 10 Medals, 17 earned a bid to DECA International Career Development Conference, 6 are State Champions, and 2 earned Individual IFME Scholarships/Awards. In addition to this, 19 seniors were selected as IFME Honor Award recipients, the most of any chapter in the State of Illinois. The number of ICDC qualifiers is a school record for Niles North DECA and we couldn’t be prouder of these students for achieving so much by overcoming so many obstacles!
Niles North DECA has served as a co-curricular organization which serves students as an integral part of the classroom instructional program in the Business Education Department for the past 43 years. Niles North DECA chapter activities contribute substantially to the primary purpose of school to develop well-educated citizens who have self-confidence, self-esteem, leadership ability, and an understanding of the American Free Enterprise System. Niles North DECA is sponsored by Jean Attig, Kara Mielke, and Nick Pahl.
Niles North DECA would like to thank the D219 Board of Education, Dr. Steven Isoye (D219 Superintendent), Dr. James Edwards (NNHS Principal), Mr. Chris Powell (ECSB Director), Ms. Alyssa Bednarz (ECSB Administrative Assistant), Mrs. Lisa Edelson (Education to Careers Coordinator), and the many D219 administration/faculty/staff for their continued support of this program.
Here are the highlights of this year’s accomplishments by the Niles North DECA Chapter:
- The Niles North DECA Chapter earned THREE Chapter Awards at the conference
- Community Service Campaign — THRIVE LEVEL (only 3 in the state)
- Promotional Campaign — THRIVE LEVEL (only 3 in the state)
- IConnect Gold Status — Alicia Fabella and Hafsa Feroz (Coordinators)
- Romesa Amiwala recognized as an IFME $1,000 Scholarship Winner
- Kamran Khan recognized as the IFME Frank Vignola Award Winner
The following students are International Career Development Conference qualifiers:
Romesa Amiwala, Project Management Career Development, First Place; Kamran Khan, Project Management Career Development, First Place; Hassam Uddin, Project management Career Development, First Place; Alicia Fabella, Project Management Business Solutions, First Place; Manu Deva, Project Management Business Solutions, First Place; Simran Mithani, Project Management Sales Project, First Place; Bushra Ahmed, Project Management Financial Literacy, Third Place; Hafsa Feroz, Project Management Financial Literacy, Third Place; Sutton Schwartz, Project Management Financial Literacy, Third Place; Ayan Das, Business Services Operations Research, Third Place; Marija Planinic, Business Services Operations Research, Third Place; Yash Sharma, Business Services Operations Research Third Place; Ethan Burstin, Independent Business Plan, Third Place; Malav Patel, Independent Business Plan, Third Place; Steven Reed, Independent Business Plan, Third Place; Lindsey Saxe, Hotel and Lodging Management, Third Place; and Meera Sahrawat, Principles of Finance, Fourth Place.
Top Ten Finishers: Noora Mekhaeel, Apparel and Accessories Marketing Series, Nosheen Ahmed, Buying and Merchandising Team Decision Making, Prachi Patel, Buying and Merchandising Team Decision Making, Mohammad Makda, Entrepreneurship Series, Samuel Abraham, Financial Services Team Decision making, Gabe Vargas, Financial Services Team Decision Making, Zaina Anarwala, Innovation Plan, Misha Gandhi, Innovation Plan, Rachel Jacob, Innovation Plan, Aamir Abjani, International Business Plan, Dane Nitoi, International Business Plan, Isar Saxena, International Business Plan, Farah Tawfik, Principles of Marketing, Aby James, Start-Up Business Plan Event and Julia Rivera, Start-Up Business Plan Event.
Excellence/Competency-Based Honors: Nosheen Ahmed, Cluster Test and Role Play; Mohammad Makda, Role Play; Salman Mehdi, Role Play; Noora Mekhaeel, Role Play; Prachi Patel, Role Play; Meera Sahrawat, Cluster Test and Role Play; Lindsey Saxe, Cluster Test and Role Play; and Farah Tafik, Role Play.