Wareham High School's DECA team took home an array of awards and sent 39 students to the state conference following the district's Career Development Conference at the Sea Crest Resort in Falmouth last week.

DECA, which stands for “Distributive Education Clubs of America,” helps students gain marketing knowledge and skills needed to build a strong business background.

Cindy Sylvia has been the DECA club advisor at Wareham since 1996. She said the club, which was founded in 1972 by her father and school committee member Cliff Sylvia, is the biggest club at Wareham High School.

"When we go to the eighth grade orientation all the kids ask us how they can get involved in DECA," Sylvia said.

She said students see how poised seniors are when they leave the program and their ability to be professional. But beyond that, DECA is about legacy, leadership and family. Sometimes quite literally, as in the case of a freshman on the team who had both parents go through DECA under Sylvia's tutelage.

"No matter who you are you can come be a part of something bigger than yourself," Sylvia said.

She said the districts conference is one of the biggest events of the year for the DECA club and all the conference trips are partially funded by the students. Sylvia said she knew one student whose only christmas present was having their trip to DECA district conferences paid.

The districts competition is separated into four components, according to Sylvia. There is a 100 question national marketing exam to start the competition and a 100 question business administration exam to finish it. Students must also present a case study that is judged by people within the industry, which industry depends on the category students are competing in.

There are 24 categories to compete in, ranging from sports and entertainment marketing and auto services to hospitality and business law and ethics. Finally, individual competitors must perform a job interview within their category and team competitors must put together a promotional campaign.

"When we're at districts all the kids go crazy cheering when the winners are announced. You would think you're at a sports rally," Sylvia said.

She said the number of students Wareham is sending to states is typical, but the number of top ten finishers and category winners was higher than usual.

45 students were finalists (finished in the top 10), 14 finished in the top three and seven were first place winners in their category.

She also mentioned that 98 percent of the 85 Wareham students who competed at districts achieved the national standard of competency on the exams.

"The reason they're so successful is because they work incredibly hard," Sylvia said. "It's a real source of pride for the kids."

Sylvia said that the overnight trip to districts is a transformative experience for students and showcases the leadership that DECA fosters.

She said this year there were two sophomores who made the trip and were nervous because they didn't really know anyone or much about the trip. But Sylvia said they came up to her shortly after the start of the trip and said that Emily Bacchiocchi, one of the senior officers, calmed them down and made them feel a part of the family.

"When we get back from the trip the kids are forever changed," Sylvia said.