The Lourdes Academy DECA chapter made history at the Florida Career Development Conference in Orlando, setting new records in its five-year history. With over 85 students qualifying for the state tournament, the team showcased months of preparation and dedication in a range of management, marketing, hospitality, finance, and entrepreneurship events. Fourteen students emerged as international qualifiers, earning a spot at the prestigious International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in April.
The competition, held from Thursday, March 6 to Saturday, March 9, brought together top-performing students from across the state to test their business acumen through case studies, simulations, and role-playing exercises. Lourdes students competed in 25 different categories, demonstrating expertise in their respective fields.
Senior Alyssa Bascuas, co-president of Lourdes DECA’s academic team, was among the standout competitors, securing first place in Retail Merchandising. “Seeing DECA transform from my freshman year to my senior year, now as president, has been incredible. My freshman year, only 16 girls qualified for states, and now we had 85. Just amazing,” Bascuas said. Alongside fellow senior and co-president Olivia Delgado, she has played a key role in expanding the program’s reach and influence.
Lourdes students excelled across multiple events. Juniors Victoria Infante and Adriana Leizaola placed first in the Entrepreneurship Team Decision-Making category. In the Project Management Business Solutions event, juniors Carolina Martinez and Brianna Rodriguez earned fourth place. Meanwhile, juniors Sophia Abreu and Juliette Romero placed eighth in Project Management Financial Literacy.
The Business Growth Plan category saw several Lourdes competitors place in the top ten. Junior Joselyn Soto placed fifth, senior Anabella Codeso placed sixth, juniors Sophia Gonzalez and Caro Guera placed eighth, and the team of juniors Samantha Diez, Ellie Muniz, and Emma Muniz placed ninth.
Upon arriving in Orlando, students attended the opening night ceremony, where they heard from DECA’s executive officers and celebrated chapter achievements. Lourdes was recognized as the sixth-largest chapter in Florida, with 340 members and 25 executive board members. The team also earned the Thrive Campaign Award, which honors chapters that actively promote business education and engagement within their school communities.
Friday marked the primary competition day, where students tackled real-world business scenarios through case studies and presentations. “This is my second state DECA trip and my category was Financial Consulting. I did my presentation on college athletes investing profits from their NIL deals and DECA has truly been an amazing experience. I’m so excited to continue growing our Lourdes chapter next year,” said junior Isabella Letourneau.
The top nine competitors in each category secured a spot at ICDC, paving the way for Lourdes’ 14 international qualifiers to compete at the global level. In preparation for the state tournament, students spent months refining their skills, developing business plans, and practicing role-play exercises designed to simulate executive decision-making.
“After my freshman year, everyone came back so excited and told their friends how much fun it was. That enthusiasm helped DECA grow, and now it’s become a huge team. DECA isn’t just about business education, it’s about networking, learning, and experiencing what it’s like to be in an executive role,” said junior Katerina Zaharewicz.
Beyond the competition, students celebrated their hard work with a team dinner and an evening at Disney Springs before heading home on Saturday morning.
With 14 students now preparing for ICDC, the Lourdes DECA team is more motivated than ever to continue its winning streak. As the chapter continues to grow and make history, its success stands as a testament to the dedication and hard work of its members. The future of Lourdes DECA is bright, and all eyes are on the team as they take their talents to the international competition.
