Sari Strizik Places Top Ten in the World at Business Competition

Half Hollow Hills High School East junior Sari Strizik competed against students from all over the world at the 2019 DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Orlando, FL, and had a “Top Ten In The World” finish in her category of Marketing Communications.

More than 22,000 DECA members demonstrated their college and career knowledge and skills at the international event by participating in DECA’s Competitive Events Program. Strizik won a medal in Marketing Communications after completing a rigorous exam and three role-play speeches. She had only ten minutes to prepare each speech, and ten minutes to present each of them. The role-plays included tackling challenges like promoting a corporate pet store chain to Generation Z through YouTube, developing a public service announcement for a salt company about the dangers of consuming high quantities of salt, and designing a promotional plan for a bluegrass band's upcoming college concert tour.

“Being able to attend ICDC was such an exciting experience,” said Strizik. “I really enjoyed meeting people from so many different places and being able to discuss their different experiences with DECA.”

The DECA ICDC event brought together 22,000 high school students, advisors, businesspersons and alumni to help them network, share knowledge and develop skills for colleges and careers. In addition to the competitive events, ICDC offers their participants access to college and career exhibits, an emerging leader series on 21st Century skill-building, and professional development for advisors.

"Sari finishing Top 10 in the world in her category is an amazing accomplishment,” said Joseph Cappiello, a teacher in the business department at Half Hollow Hills High School East and advisor for their DECA chapter. “The hard work and dedication of our DECA students directly led to what they accomplished at the International Competition.”

With a nearly 70-year history, DECA has impacted the lives of more than ten million students, educators, school administrators and business professionals since it was founded in 1946. Their 3,500 high school chapters help prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

An education-oriented community with high academic expectations, the Half Hollow Hills Central School District is located in a residential area of 50,000 people in the central part of Long Island, approximately 40 miles from New York City. Providing for the education of almost 8,000 students, the school district has five elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Half Hollow Hills High Schools are fully accredited by the New York State Department of Education. The district is committed to providing all students with opportunities to excel in academics, athletics and the arts.