U-46 students earn top honors at DECA contest

Elgin Area School District U-46 high school students earned top honors at the West Suburban DECA Regional competition held in Rosemont last month.

Thirty students from Bartlett, South Elgin and Streamwood high schools will move on to compete at the state competition held in Decatur in March. DECA is a business-based club that equips students across the nation with skills in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.

"I am always pleased to hear about high school students demonstrating an eagerness to spend their personal time gaining real world business experience," said Superintendent José M. Torres.

"We continue to see an increased interest in DECA and other clubs and activities that prepare students for a successful career after U-46."

U-46 students who earned high honors at regionals and will move on to compete at state include:

• Bartlett High School: Francesca Mariani, Travel and Tourism, third place; Dustin Murray, Travel and Tourism, third place; and Jason Pierce, Principles of Business Management, fourth place

• South Elgin High School: Owen Bott, Restaurant Management, third place; Kristian Jennes, Principles of Finance, first place; Arbaz Mirza, Principles of Fashion and Accessories, third place; Sergio Pendoza, Quick Serve Restaurant, Top Ten; Arsh Salwan, Quick Serve Restaurant, third place; Trenton Williams, Food Marketing - Top Ten.

Tavo Villanueva will compete in a written event on Entrepreneurial Innovations. Kevin Lee competed in Apparel and Accessories and will compete in a written event on Professional Selling. Cindy Luu competed in Marketing Management and will compete in a written event on Professional Selling.

• Streamwood High School: Kate Chwistek, Automotive Services Marketing, first place; Leena Almasri, Sports and Entertainment Marketing, second place; Nick Del Giudice, Apparel and Accessories Marketing, second place; Mitch Bendis, Business Services Marketing, second place; Kathy Luangphixay, Quick Serve Restaurant Marketing, second place; A.J. Knox, Food Marketing, second place; Nora Hartman, Retail Merchandising, third place; Karina Morales, Apparel and Accessories Marketing, fourth place.

The Top Ten finishers were: Ruben Gallardo, Retail Merchandising; Tiffany Besana, Apparel and Accessories; Ulises Bonilla, Automotive Services; Megan Roy-Chowdhury, Human Resource Management; Nicole Odziewa, Retail Merchandising; Monica Estrada, Sports and Entertainment Marketing; Alejandra Pineda, Full-Service Restaurant; Gabrielle Reyes, Full-Service Restaurant; Danny Gooby, Sports and Entertainment Marketing; Sarah Koppe, Hotel and Lodging Management.