A regional youth business competition is preparing Bishop Tonnos students for the real world of business.

On November 13th, 18 business students from Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School participated in the DECA Regional Case Competition held at Brock University’s Goodman School of Business.

DECA Inc. is an international youth business organization with 177,000 members and 3,200 high school chapters worldwide. Ontario DECA is the Provincial Office in Ontario that runs the Regional and Provincial Competitions in Ontario. Ontario DECA is made up of 15,500 members from 206 schools. DECA’s mission, says Teacher-Advisor Gelsie Riverso-Casella, “is to create professional partnerships and experiential learning opportunities. These experiences allow students to develop confidence as well as the skills needed for employment and leadership.”

Since September, members of the BT DECA Chapter have been meeting on a regular basis to prepare for the online exam and Regional presentations. Students are mentored and guided by supportive corporate and community sponsors through a variety of activities including role play, community projects, leadership programs and international networking, she added.

As part of the competition, students were given a business case in their chosen category to analyze and address in a 10-minute presentation before a judge. Students were graded on their analysis of the business problem as well as their presentation skills.

Advancing to Provincials in the Case Competitions are:
• Kunal Kapoor, Automotive Services Marketing;
• Cameron McIlroy, Retail Merchandising;
• Averie Michels, Hotel and Lodging Management;
• Nadia Nieczyporowicz, Principles of Hospitality and Tourism;
• Team of Nicholas Barone and Nicholas Zanin, Hospitality Services; and,
• Team of Simona Febbraro and Caitlin Tesluk-Servos, Sports and Entertainment Marketing.

“We wish these students success as they continue with their preparations for the Provincial Competition in February,” says Riverso-Casella.

In the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, DECA chapters have been established at Bishop Tonnos, St. John Henry Newman and St. Mary Catholic Secondary Schools with St. Jean de Brébeuf and Bishop Ryan joining for the first time this year.