PARIS – Oxford Hills DECA students are headed south after winning big at the state competition recently in South Portland. A record 20 of the 28 students who competed from Oxford Hills qualified to attend the International Career Development Conference in Nashville, Tenn., from April 30 to May 5. This is the largest number ever in the history of the program.

Besides winning the overall conference award, which is determined based on the most points accumulated by a school winning first, second and third places in their competitive events, the chapter also won the chapter of the year award, the outstanding DHCA student award for the conference, and the stale slate of officers.

The chapter of the year award was presented to Dan Bolduc, Ashley Courington and Courtney Culbert. The outstanding DECA student award for the conference, which is awarded to the student who scores the highest on the general knowledge exam, way won by Krystal Annance.

The chapter’s outstanding DECA student award, an award given to a student from each school who is a role model in his/her DECA chapter, was presented to Dan Bolduc.

Students who will run the state DECA for the next year and who will attend the State Officer Leadership Development Academy at nationals are: President, AIy McKeen; vice president, Kelsea Pelletier; secretary, Kellie Sunderland; and treasurer, Lindsey Perry.

Students attending the conference compete in either two or three events and are awarded ribbons for placing first, second or third in each of those events. First, second and third place trophies are awarded to those students who receive the highest score in a combination of their events. Those receiving first and second place trophies earn the opportunity to attend the national conference.

First place overall trophy winners were: Nicole Hemingway in apparel and accessories, associate level; Jennifer Manchester in food marketing, associate level; Courtney Culbert in retail marketing, associate level; Krystal Annance in retail marketing, management level; Nicole McKeen in free enterprise economics; Whitney Emens and. Miranda Kennagh in sports and entertainment; Jamie Jones and Heather Nurmi in hospitality services; Kyle Raymond and Mike Billon in E-commerce; and Dan Bolduc, Carina Brown and Ashley Courington in civic consciousness written event.

The second place overall trophy winners were: Kelsea Pelletier in apparel and accessories, management level; Lindsey Perry in marketing management; Melissa Brown and Corri Runes in travel and tourism.

Third place overall winners were: Kellie Sunderland in food marketing, management level; Jake Cash in business services marketing; and Jinny Tsimis in restaurant full serve.

Ribbon winners were: Leslie Perry in marketing math; Lisa Dube-Christman Klarissa Austin in sports and entertainment; Megan Parsons and Aly McKeen in hospitality services.

Other participants were Lindsey Partridge and Stephanie Jones in travel and tourism.

Opening ceremonies featured keynote speaker, Susan Gendron, commissioner of education. Workshops featured Maine humorist, Gary Crocker, speaking on the subject of marketing and Dirk Van Curan, financial advisor with American Express Financial Advisors Inc., who spoke about financial planning.

Community and school members helping as event managers were Jan Bruchs, Lisa Jones, Barbara Rathbone and Dr. Thomas Cope. Those serving as judges were Adriene and Bruce Little. Doug Smith, and Wendy Newmeyer.

DECA advisor, Pal Pelletier, says that students will be doing a lot of fund-raising to raise the money needed for the trip. Anyone want to make a donation cann contact any DECA student at 743-7756, Ext. 5100.