NASHVILLE – Oxford Hills Technical School’s Distributive Education Club of America students Dan Bolduc, Carina Brown and Ashley Courington placed in the top 17 in the nation for their civic consciousness project at the DECA International Career Development Conference from April 30 to May 5.

The three students raised money and awareness for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine, then created and presented a 35-page summary of their learning and achievements to judges at the state and national levels.

The students began their efforts to help children with life-threatening medical conditions in early January by promoting the “Wish for the Stars” Talent Show, which included community participants and guests. Keynote speakers included a “Wish Family” and Make-A-Wish children with life-threatening illnesses. Local businesses supported the effort by purchasing sponsorships.

Other efforts included selling Make-A-Wish snowmen, which were signed by the purchaser and displayed on the windows of Valhalla, the school store run by the marketing/DECA students.

As a result of their efforts, the three more than tripled their goal and presented the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine with a check for $1,357.09. They also spread awareness of this foundation throughout the Oxford Hills community.

The students are the first from the DECA program at Oxford Hills to be national finalists and were the only finalists at the national from Maine this year. They are seniors at the high school and third-year students in the marketing/DECA program.