DECA
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DECA is a club focused on career development and career technical education. Scholars who participate pick an area of study and focus in the larger fields of marketing, business development, finance, and entrepreneurship. Specific areas of interest can include sports entertainment, the automotive industry, and retail marketing.
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| "The DECA experience starts in the classroom where students learn business concepts in preparation for college and careers. A powerful instructional component, DECA brings the classroom to life by empowering the teacher-advisor to make learning relevant with educational programs that integrate into classroom instruction, apply learning, connect to business and promote competition. The successful integration of each of these four interconnected components, also part of DECA’s guiding principles, results in a strong program that produces college- and career-ready students." - https://www.deca.org/mission |
- Career Exploration
- Scholarship Opportunities
- Participation in Regional Competitions - and the chance to win awards!
DECA Alumni
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Rachael Nguyen | 22-23 DLA DECA President Hello, my name is Rachael Nguyen. I attended Reidy Creek Elementary and Rincon Middle School, and I chose Del Lago Academy for high school because it is one of the best schools available. I appreciated not having to carry tons of books around and instead using an iPad. During the pandemic, our advisor asked me to restart DLA DECA, and I gathered my peers to work on projects to maintain our club's status. I was also nominated for and received the Escondido Union High School District Board of Education's Inspirational Student Award. In addition, I volunteered regularly in the school cafeteria, joined Linkcrew to help new scholars transition into Del Lago, and won the contest to design the 2023 senior sweater and class sticker. My passion for art led me to intern with the Escondido Art Partnership during my junior year. What I love most about Del Lago is the supportive atmosphere, accommodating staff, and driven scholars, all of whom are dedicated to success. I started attending Palomar College during my junior year and am now a full-time student, working toward a future in nursing. College feels easier for me than high school because I have more control over my schedule, allowing me to achieve my goals with ease. My advice to other scholars is, “Do your best and hang in there.” |
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Vada Mock | 23-24 DLA DECA Hello, I'm Vada Mock, a graduate of the class of 2024 and now a freshman at UC Berkeley, where I'm pursuing studies in Psychology and Art Practice. During my time at Del Lago Academy, I was actively involved in DECA, where I helped organize a successful clothing drive in collaboration with Starbucks for our members. In my senior year, I was honored to be recognized as a Rising Star by the Escondido Chamber of Commerce and received the Escondido Art Association Art Award. I was also proud to earn DECA’s Emerging Leader Honor Award in 2024. |
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Cian Hartshorn | 23-24 DLA DECA Hi, my name is Cian Hartshorn. I graduated in 2024 and am currently attending UC Davis, where I’m studying Chemical Engineering. Joining DECA in my senior year was an incredible experience—it allowed me to meet amazing people and explore everything the organization had to offer. I played an active role in designing events and organizing interview practice sessions for new members, which helped strengthen our club's community and leadership. |
Join DECA!
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Membership is open to grades 10-12. For information, please contact Ms. Memarzadeh.
Senior Advisor
Sudi Memarzadeh (CTE Teacher) Co-Advisor
Laura Burley (Library Media Tech) |