Four students from HWCDSB had the opportunity to “Be The One” at this year’s DECA International Career and Development Conference (ICDC) in Orlando, Florida at the end of April 2025. There were over 25,000 high school students, teacher-advisors, business professionals and alumni gathered for 6 days of DECA excitement. This year’s DECA theme was “Be The One”.
Three students from Bishop Ryan C.S.S. attended Internationals. Of these 3 students, two were partners for the Team Decision Making Event in Business Law and Ethics (BLTDM event). These two students who competed in the Business Law and Ethics Case Event were Adam Alkazely (grade 11 student) and Ava Fraser (grade 12 student). Not only did Adam and Ava attend the International Competition but were finalists in their competition and had the opportunity to walk across the international stage and obtain their medals. Adam and Ava were also recognized this past year obtaining medals at Regional Competition for Top 10 Exam, Top 10 Oral, Top 10 Overall in their Event and Top 3 Overall in their event. At the Provincial Competition Adam and Ava walked the stage and received top 10 which is what qualified them for the International Competition. Adam and Ava both earned a DECA Award of Excellence at DECA ICDC.
Three grade 12 students from St. Mary C.S.S. qualified at DECA Provincials to attend the International Competition, they were; Abby Katherine & Maya Rajan for their “Pocket Library” Project Management Community Giving Project (PMCG written event), they scored in the top 10 for their event. Marios Apostolou was a finalist for Business Services Marketing (BSM Individual Case Event). Abby and Maya were unable to commit to attending ICDC. Marios was able to attend the International Competition. Marios was also recognized this year at the Regional Competition in top 10 overall and at the Provincial Competition level top 20 for oral, top 10 overall score for his event. Marios also earned the DECA Award of Excellence at DECA ICDC.
Student, Margaret Sison, grade 11 student from Bishop Ryan C.S.S. attended ICDC as a participant in the Leadership Development Academy offered at the Conference. There she gained valuable information and experience to help the Bishop Ryan C.S.S Chapter and the other HWCDSB schools for the new school year. Earlier in the year Margaret was awarded at Regionals for Top 10 Exam, Top 10 Oral in her event and Top 10 Overall in her event Principals of Hospitality and Tourism. She qualified to compete at Provincials and scored exceptionally well overall within her two case events at Provincials.
Students who compete at the international level do not compete for their school, but rather their state/province. Our HWCDSB students were part of the Ontario DECA Affiliation of DECA Inc. Ontario DECA for the 2024-2025 year had 241 Chapters and 15,000 members. There were 803 competitors, 50 leadership delegates and 138 teacher advisors who made up the Ontario DECA team at ICDC this year.
We congratulate our Bishop Ryan C.S.S. and St. Mary C.S.S. students on all they accomplished. They dedicated months of hard work studying for exams and practicing cases. Their hard work earned them the opportunity this year to Be The One!
