SPHS COMPETES AT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CAREER DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE 

San Pasqual High School (SPHS) Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) members rose early once again on Saturday, January 10, 2025, for their first official competitive DECA event of the new year. Twenty-six students, dressed in professional business attire, arrived at SPHS at 6:00 a.m. sharp to travel to the Southern California Career Development Conference (Districts), eager to showcase the skills they had been working on for months. Leading up to the competition, members reviewed business concepts, practiced mock interviews, and refined their role-play scenarios to prepare for the big day. One of these members, Diana Alzina Gomez, shared what she enjoyed from the conference:" As my first ever official competition, I enjoyed being able to take the skills I learned from the MLK Mini-Con and translate them at District Competition!" Alzina Gomez stated. 

This competition allowed students to compete in both team and individual categories. In these categories, SPHS students competed against 40-50 students from nearby high schools in Southern California. Participants completed a series of events, including role-play interviews, tests on business knowledge, and social media strategy. Congratulations to all finalists and winners:

The Team of Whitney, Hodgson, and Alzina Gomez: 1st Place in the Southern California Social Media Challenge.

The Team of Becerril and Medina: 3rd Place for Interview, 4th Place Overall in their event.

The Team of Alzina Gomez and Hodgson: 7th Place Overall in Hospitality Services Team Decision Making.

Jacob W.: 3rd Place for Interview A and 5th Place Overall in Hotel & Lodging Management.

Lena D.: 2nd Place for Interview A and 5th Place Overall in Retail Merchandising Series.

Juliet L.: 3rd Place for Interview B and 6th Place Overall in Retail Merchandising Series.

Juan G.: 9th Place Overall in Quick Serve Restaurant Management.

After a successful day of competition, SPHS DECA members returned home excited and motivated for their next conference, the California Career Development Conference. The Southern California Career Development Conference not only provided an opportunity for members to earn awards but also helped build confidence and experience for future DECA events. The club looks forward to continuing their strong season as they prepare for regional competition.