Cape DECA sweeps career development conference
Cape Henlopen High School had 42 students – its highest number in several years – compete in the DECA Delaware Career Development Conference Jan. 29-30 at the University of Delaware.
Many of the students earned first-, second- and third-place spots in the competition, which featured various marketing- and business-related role play and prepared events. They also networked with other DECA members, and attended workshops led by business and marketing professionals and scholars.
“It was a great way to meet people, find new opportunities and do new things,” said sophomore Sullivan Naden, 15, about the conference.
DECA is a co-curricular marketing program available to all students enrolled in a state-approved career and technical marketing education program. Business and marketing teacher Kristen Jones serves as Cape’s DECA advisor and was named this year’s Delaware DECA Advisor of the Year.
“When I first came to high school, I was a really quiet kid, and I didn’t socialize much,” said 18-year-old senior Krish Prattipati, who ended his term as president of Delaware DECA this year. “But through DECA, I learned how to speak in front of crowds, and [it] helped my people skills, just going out there, having community outreach and talking to people. I think that’s a really important skill, regardless of what [college] major I’m going into.”
For 17-year-old junior Addison Breneman, DECA means opportunities.
Breneman served as the vice president of marketing for Cape’s DECA chapter this school year, in charge of running the organization’s Instagram page, and making flyers for fundraisers and other events. She said the position allowed her to work with digital design software like Canva, which is popular in the marketing industry.
“I want to go into marketing, so for an internship, I can use what I’ve made for the DECA Instagram as a resumé or portfolio,” she said.
Cape also has several students in state officer positions.
Kathryn Costello and Jack Flynn served as the state’s vice president of leadership and vice president of hospitality, respectively, ending their terms this year with Prattipati. Adyson Kaufman and Ellie Sprague were newly elected to be the vice president of leadership and vice president of hospitality, respectively, for the 2025-26 term.
Students who placed in the state conference are qualified to compete in this year’s International Career Development Conference, which will take place in Orlando, Fla., from Saturday, April 26 to Tuesday, April 29.
Cape’s DECA chapter will be hosting its annual Come On Down event, a game show-style fundraiser, at 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 22, in the school auditorium. The proceeds will help fund the club’s ICDC trip and its participation in next year’s state conference, Prattipati said.
For more information about Come on Down or to purchase a ticket, go to @cape_DECA on Instagram.
Below is a list of events in which Cape students placed, along with the students’ names and places.
Automotive Services Marketing
- Akum Kang – second place
Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making
- Eric Cespedes and Gavin Rineer – first place
Financial Consulting
- Ellie Sprague – third place
Food Marketing Series
- Max Beck – first place
Human Resource Management
- Kate Dowd – first place
Independent Business Plan
- Anna Coverdale and Jacob McLean – first place
Innovation Plan
- Kathryn Costello, Kavin Prattipati and Krish Prattipati – first place
Integrated Marketing Campaign - Product
- Anna Beck and Alivia Heers – second place
Marketing Communications
- Carson Greenberg – third place
Marketing Management Team Decision Making
- William Burke and Blake Fitzgerald – second place
Personal Financial Literacy
- Sullivan Naden – first place
- Stephen Hart – second place
- Ellie Sprague – third place
Professional Selling
- Chloe DeForrest – first place
Quick Service Restaurant Management
- Jack Flynn – third place
Restaurant and Food Service Management
- Caleb Marcus – third place
Sports and Entertainment Marketing
- Thomas Bain – second place
- Gabby Hamstead – third place
Start-Up Business Plan
- Ellianna Windsor – first place
Travel and Tourism Team Decision Making
- Bridgett Cole and Dilyla Rohls – first place.
