North Gwinnett News

Twenty students from Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) achieved top positions at the DECA State Career Development Conference. These middle and high school students secured first or second place in various categories.

Dr. Kyle Jones, GCPS director of Academies and Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education, stated, “These students demonstrate what we hope to see in all our GCPS graduates and emulate the competencies of our Portrait of a Graduate—empathy, critical thinking, communication, adaptability, collaborative leadership, and resourcefulness. Career Technical Student Organizations are vital extensions to the student experience, acting as external laboratories for students to apply and develop durable, lifelong employability skills. Students who choose a CTAE pathway often have the opportunity to engage in these co-curricular organizations that provide a platform to compete among their peers across the state and even nationally while also developing valuable leadership skills as a CTSO chapter officer.”

DECA is an international association aimed at preparing high school and college students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Through DECA's programs, GCPS students participate in leadership development activities and compete in international events.

The list of winning students includes Madison Chong from North Gwinnett Middle School who took second place in Principles of Marketing; Riya Patel from North Gwinnett Middle School who won first place in Middle School Marketing Testing; Katherina Traykova from North Gwinnett High School who secured first place in both Automotive Services and Buying & Merchandising Testing; Taylor Cottengim from North Gwinnett High School who came first in Principles of Hospitality & Tourism; Naa Korkoi Martins and Shriya Patel from Shiloh High School who won first place in Financial Services Team Decision-Making; Lena Tata from Grayson High School who took first place with her Theme Speech; Christopher Bush & Rishi Patel from Grayson High School who earned second place for Pin Lapel Design; Myra Wu from Paul Duke STEM High School who was second in Human Resources Management; Esther Jung from Mill Creek High School who came first in Accounting Applications; Lexi Tinker along with Isabella Hoge and Maggie Romeo from Mill Creek High School all took first place for Sports & Entertainment Operations Research; Diego Cruz from Mountain View High School placed second for Principles of Business Management & Administration; Priyanka Mitra along with Trent Morrow from Peachtree Ridge High School were second for Business Law & Ethics.