If you have walked through the Upper B Pod during R block, or read through the morning announcements, you have most likely heard of the new Ipswich DECA Club. According to DECA advisor, Tate Shippen, “DECA is a huge international organization that prepares high school and college students for careers in hospitality, finance, business, and management.”
DECA, standing for the Distributive Education Clubs of America, aims to provide students with essential skills for teamwork and collaboration through “real-world activities, role play, conferences, and community projects” (Shippen). In addition to encouraging leadership skills in students, DECA allows young adults to explore different career paths they may want to pursue in the future.
All of these activities are in preparation for the main event of the DECA season: the competition. According to the DECA website, the DECA competition stands at three levels, requiring students to make it through the preliminary district and state rounds, before making it to the international finals. During these intense competitions, students may take part in three different types of contests, including role-plays, prepared events, and online simulations. These events require students to hone in on the leadership skills they have prepared throughout the year and apply them to real-world situations. The Ipswich chapter of DECA will begin engaging in the preliminary competitions this winter with their new student body.
At Ipswich, when asked about who started DECA, Shippen recalls the idea of an Ipswich chapter being “tossed around by many faculty and students,” leading him and student parent, Mrs. Kayata, to “put it in the works.” Despite no specific DECA curriculum, Shippen has utilized his creativity, innovation, and knowledge from teaching “Business & Entrepreneurship” to help lead this group. In addition, Shippen has brought in “representatives from Massachusetts’ DECA Team” to speak on what is expected at the competitions. It is clear that Shippen and Kayata are passionate when it comes to student leadership and DECA.
Currently, the club meets in the upper A Pod during Friday R-Block, with an optional make-up session after school on Tuesdays. With over 30 average attendees per meeting, Ipswich students appear to be engaging well with the new program. So far, students from all demographics are represented in current enrollment, including both boys and girls, upper and lower classmen, and students interested in a variety of niches. This widespread interest in all types of students is very promising for the future of DECA. A few students in particular have taken their leadership a step further, by running and being elected for officer positions, of which there are a multitude. Students Bianca Fatu and Jonathan Chouvelon “polled very similarly” in the voting, resulting in an outcome of these peers being co-presidents. Following them, Nick Kayata will hold the position of vice president, with Oliver Cullem as the secretary. The large role of treasurer is currently held by students Sarah Belford and Jack Mahiack. The unique role of the vice president of social media and communications will be held this year by Asuka Keough, and the director of fundraising will be the highly experienced Charlie Quimby. Finally, the board of directors, named the ambassadors, will be students Lucas Hahn and Reed Soininen, who will assist the other officers.
When talking to the passionate co-president, Bianca Fatu, she spoke about how DECA relates to her previous experience with business competition. Last year, she created a unique combination of a necklace-phone charger and was very successful in the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) competition. She shares that “both experiences focus on business strategy, problem-solving, and creativity, and both challenge you to think critically and present your ideas effectively.” However, DECA additionally provides a community of like-minded and motivated students. She shares, “Both have pushed me to refine my business acumen and helped me grow as a leader.”
When asked about her new position, Fatu emphasized her excitement for the new program. She explains, “I hope DECA in Ipswich continues to grow and inspire future students to pursue careers in business, marketing, and entrepreneurship.” Bianca and her fellow officers hope that “DECA create[s] more partnerships with local businesses and mentors, expanding the hands-on learning opportunities for students,” and they are actively working towards this goal.
