Students in Buchholz High School’s Academy of Entrepreneurship brought home awards and recognitions from the Florida DECA Career Development Conference. 

Of the 111 students who competed, 41 won recognition and are eligible to compete at the International DECA conference in April. 

The four-day state conference in Orlando consisted of about 3,000 students competing in 50 events, with 30-50 students in each event. 

The Buchholz DECA chapter received the Gold Chapter Award, a recognition for the planning and completion of activities around “Outreach, Networking and Engagement.” 

Buchholz DECA also earned the highest “Thrive” Level for DECA Membership and Chapter Campaigns. 

Buchholz also won two Gold Level School Based Enterprises (SBEs): one for its retail store “Spirit Spot” and the other for its food “Café.” Two teams will compete at the DECA International Career Development Conference against Gold Level SBEs from around the world. 

DECA, formerly known as Distributive Education Clubs of America, is an international student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. Buchholz DECA chapter advisors are Wendy Rosché and Terry Hoffer. 

Competitive event winners were: 

1st Place – Community Giving Project: Anna Tomlinson and Tommy Sheridan 

2nd Place – Sales Project: Katie Lathem, Karis Harper, Oliver Dowling  

3rd Place – Principles of Entrepreneurship: Milena Masters 

3rd Place – Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making: McKenna Hantak and Noah Perez 

4th Place – Financial Literacy Project: Emma Dorosheff, Ansley Sherrard, Mara Tilley 

6th Place – Financial Literacy Project: Raelyn Henson, Isabela Caicedo, Paloma Dudas 

6th Place – Business Law & Ethics Team: Bryce Gillingham and Jayda Cooper 

6th Place – Human Resources Management: Halle Spiwak 

7th Place – Principles of Finance: Jenna Narveson 

7th Place – Business Growth Plan: Quinlan Richmond 

7th Place – Sales Project: Jaite Howell, Finn Mangan, Julia Wicke 

7th Place – Marketing Management Team: Michaela George and Lily Vaillancourt 

8th Place – Principles of Hospitality: Sailor Thomas 

8th Place – Career Development Project: Gracie Werner, Ellis Warm, Audrey Lee 

8th Place – Business Solutions Project: Thalia Brandes, Lillian Ho, Jullian Madambra 

8th Place – Buying and Merchandising Operations: Alexander Harris and Paul Mishoe 

Qualified – Entrepreneurship Series: Rebekah Brown 

Qualified – Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making: Hana McGlynn and Marley Selph 

Qualified – Automotive Services Marketing: Hunter Hazen 

Gold SBE- Retail: Anabel Soto and Gabe Myers 

Gold SBE- Food: Xavier Tatten and Zakiyah Williams