Los Alamos High School (LAHS) DECA hosted a DECA Buddies Day event, with almost 60 students from LAHS and Capital High School in attendance for a day of activities and team building. LAHS DECA President Jasmine Heft, left, is leading the teams in one of the day’s many activities. Courtesy/LAPS

LAPS News:

The Los Alamos High School (LAHS) DECA (international business association for high school and college students) recently hosted Capital High School DECA students for a day of activities and team building exercises that has become known as “DECA Buddies Day”.

Last Tuesday, 28 Capital High School DECA students and two Capital High School DECA advisors spent the school day with Los Alamos High School DECA students and their advisor, Dr. Sharon Hurley. The purpose of the event was to build partnerships and collegiality between the DECA students at the two schools.

“Our DECA Buddies Day event is part of a larger state-wide initiative instituted by our State DECA Officer Team,” Dr. Hurley said. “All chapters are assigned sister teams to work with and establish relationships among the members. Building these relationships creates an atmosphere of collegiality and friendship.”

“Through these events, the students realize that although they attend different schools, they are all DECA, all New Mexicans and all working toward common goals,” she added.

The day’s events included team building activities and competitions such as banner decorating using previous national DECA themes, and a gratitude project in which the students created written thank you notes.

“Bringing together these students for a day of activities, food and games, is one of the highlights of our school year,” Dr. Hurley said. “Getting to know the students in other chapters makes attendance at our state and national competitions more fun and safer, as the students recognize each other and the advisors from other chapters.”

“Last year, we noticed at our state and national competitions, several of the students from Capital High and Los Alamos High gathering in the lobby of the hotels, visiting and sharing meals together,” Dr. Hurley said. “These students truly embraced the idea that we are all part of New Mexico DECA.”

A second DECA Buddies Day will occur in mid-January when Los Alamos High School DECA Students will visit Capital High for another day of activities and team building.

“We are truly grateful for the friendships we have established with our colleagues at Capital High,” Dr. Hurley said. “We always look forward to these events and getting to spend time with our DECA Buddies. We appreciate the administrators in both school districts for their support of our DECA programs and for their help in enhancing business education in New Mexico.”

About DECA

DECA is an international business organization with both high school and collegiate chapters, focused on business education. DECA students spend the academic year concentrating on areas such as marketing, finance, business administration, and hospitality and tourism. Students participate in competitions in these topics at regional, state, and international levels. Students also learn the basics of operating a retail business, interview techniques and presentation skills.