(posted on May 11, 2010)

Fifteen Socastee High School (SHS) students attended the Distributive Education Club of America’s (DECA) International Career Development Conference in Louisville, Kentucky for leadership development and competition. Courtnay Bourque, Deanna Miller, Katherine Parris, and Jessica Richards represented SHS at the international competition after each of them qualified by placing in the top five at the South Carolina State Career Development Conference held in North Charleston last February. 

Deanna Miller was the first student in school history to make it on the international stage where she was among the Top 20 in the Apparel and Accessories Marketing category.  She received a medal for her score in the competition. Courtnay Bourque and Jessie Richards competed in the QuickServe Restaurant Management category earning Awards of Excellence. 

As a state officer, Parris represented both the school and the State DECA Chapter. In addition to competing in the Food Marketing Services category, she participated in a leadership development program designed to prepare her for her role as Vice President of Chapter Development for SC DECA.

SHS students participated in several leadership development and chapter management programs. The Chapter Management Academy is designed for students planning to take on leadership roles and participation is awarded only to members of a chapter that have met the membership goals and submitted documentation of chapter activities. SHS was one of only two schools in the state to earn both 100% Membership and Gold Level recognition for the Chapter Awards Program. 

The following students participated in leadership programs:  Alexis Bunting, Alley Cuozzo, Austin Fullwood, Alexa Kolcun, Kristen McCulloch, Chelsea McKinney, Samantha McKinney, Meredith Neely, Taylor Rich, Ashlyn Tilton, and Jessica Ward.