On January 7, students from Clarkstown High School North competed in the Region 3 DECA Championship, joining participants from 24 schools across Rockland, Putnam, Orange County, and Westchester. Before the competition, Clarkstown North’s DECA chapter saw months of dedication and preparation. DECA members attended meetings to practice roleplay scenarios and, depending on their event, completed written exams to test their business knowledge. As DECA member Abdurahman Almansouri explained, he “went on to DECA Plus and went over the roleplay events” in preparation for the competition.

Throughout the event, North students represented their school with professionalism, confidence, and thorough preparation. The group departed at 8:00 a.m. and returned before the end of the school day.

Students met in the CHSN auditorium at 7:25 a.m., fully dressed in business professional attire. During check-in, attendance was taken, and advisors reviewed the schedule and event expectations. At 8:00 a.m., students traveled by bus to Rockland Community College. Upon arrival, participants checked in for their events, located preparation and presentation rooms, and received guidance from advisors. Competitions ran from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. During this time, students rotated between preparation rooms, judge presentations, and a supervised lounge. Each competitor was given a real-world business role-play scenario, ten minutes to prepare a solution, and the opportunity to present their ideas to a judge acting as a business professional. Students were then asked follow-up questions to demonstrate their understanding and ability to think on their feet. After students departed RCC and returned to CHSN by 1:00 p.m., reporting to periods seven and eight as usual.

DECA President Sophia Sigerson highlighted the organization and impact of the competition. She noted that the event “ran really smoothly” and credited the staff and volunteers who helped operate it. Sigerson also emphasized the value of the experience for members, explaining that “it is definitely a really unique experience. You get to interview in front of someone and are forced to speak on your feet. You wouldn’t be able to get this experience anywhere else.” She described the competition as something that “helps students a lot, to be able practice for real-life situations, and… I thought it was very beneficial.” 

Several North students earned top placements at the regional competition. Gabriella Chazan placed sixth in Marketing Communications, Harlow Dykhuizen placed fourth in Principles of Finance, Vishnu Ramakrishnan placed sixth in the Food Marketing Series, and Adam Slomovitz earned second place in Principles of Entrepreneurship. These students will join other North competitors who participated in prepared events at the New York State Career Conference, where they will compete for the title of State Champion and potentially qualify for the international DECA competition in Atlanta, Georgia, this April.

Reflecting on her experience, Gabriella Chazan shared that the competition was largely about managing nerves, especially while waiting outside the event room. Despite this, she felt prepared and focused on supporting her teammates and other DECA chapters. Chazan expressed pride in placing once again, noting, “It feels pretty good to have placed, especially considering I didn’t think I was going to. Getting my scores back, I’m shocked I placed. However, I feels accomplished to have placed 2 years in a row.” Looking ahead, she shared her excitement for the state conference, saying, “I’m so excited for states. I can’t wait to spend time with my friends, compete again, and meet new people at SCC.”