As the largest club at Green Hope traveled to Greensboro, NC, excitement filled the air for another competition at the annual Career Development Conference (CDC). With nearly 6,000 competitors from across the state competing for top honors, Green Hope DECA once again demonstrated its strength, securing 30 coveted spots at the prestigious International Development Conference (ICDC) in Orlando, Florida. 

On Wednesday, Feb. 26, Green Hope DECA members eagerly boarded buses, their hands full with luggage and presentation materials. After arriving at their hotel on Wednesday night, students enjoyed a catered Chik-Fil-A dinner and made final preparations for the competition ahead. 

Thursday marked the official start of competition, with students competing in various events, including Principle Roleplays, Professional Selling & Consulting and Team Roleplay Events. Roleplays are when students receive a business scenario and have limited time to prepare a response before presenting their solutions to judges.

That evening, the grand opening ceremony celebrated outstanding chapters, with Green Hope DECA earning the Hall of Fame recognition – the highest distinction for a chapter. Green Hope DECA advisor Mr. Harrison Ray won the Kenneth W. Smith Award for Professional Dedication, adding to the clubs achievements. After the ceremony, students gathered for the highly anticipated NC DECA Dance. The auditorium was filled with music, laughter and a performance from the “Free Daps” band.

Friday brought another round of competition with Individual Roleplays and Written Events. Unlike roleplays, which require on-the-spot problem-solving, Written Events involve months of extensive research, a detailed business plan or marketing strategy and a formal written report. Competitors then present to the judges, wearing their best professional attire to pitch their innovative ideas, all with one goal in mind – qualifying for ICDC. 

As the conference came to a close, anticipation filled the air at the grand awards ceremony. To qualify for ICDC, students must place in either the top 6 or top 7, depending on their event. Green Hope had its most successful year yet, with 30 students qualifying for the international conference in April: 

Finance Operations Research: Harish Arun Karthik (‘27) and Harri S.N. (‘27)

Franchise Business Plan: Ayush Sagar (‘25) and Ege Unal (‘25)

Independent Business Plan: Prewitt Dash (‘26), Braden Teske (‘26) and Lars Hagen (‘26)

Hospitality & Tourism Operations Research: Hasini Arun Karthik (‘28), Sasya Koneru (‘28) and Saispoorthi Vuppala (‘28)

Quick Service Restaurant Management: Yash Gupta (‘25)

Integrated Marketing Campaign – Event: Lillian Czika (‘26), Patrick Davis (‘26) and Joe Lopez (‘25)

International Business Plan: Amogh Pulkurthi (‘25) and Aarush Talluri (‘26)

Financial Consulting Event: Mahita Penmetsa (‘26)

Professional Selling Event: Aashvee Raja (‘26)

Financial Literacy Project: Gabriella Luncford (‘25), Pratik Motiramani (‘25) and Kunal Toomu (‘25)

Business Services Operations: Rocco Ciccolini (‘26), Anirudh Thiagarajan (‘26) and Ryan Zhao (‘26)

Community Giving Project: Patrick Barry (‘26), Hutson Catullo (‘26) and Lucas Covil (‘26)

Integrated Marketing Campaign – Product: Siri Vanam (‘26)

Principles of Finance: Aarush Chitta (‘28)

Principles of Finance: Laxman Guru Meenakshi Sundaram Kalaivani (‘27)

In addition to these achievements, Green Hope student Yash Gupta (‘25) concluded his tenure as North Carolina’s Triad Region Vice President. Over the past year, Gupta dedicated himself to NC DECA, attending the NC CTSO Summit in Greensboro, the DECA Emerging Leader Summit in Tennessee, the DECA Power Trip in Charlotte, multiple school visits around the Triangle and more. During the awards ceremony, his contributions were celebrated with a heartfelt video featuring his family, the NC DECA executive team 81, his friends, and his chapter, Green Hope DECA. A member since freshman year, Gupta’s leadership left a lasting impact, leading the largest DECA region in the state throughout the 2024-2025 school year. 

With more than 297,000 members in the nation, this CTSOs popularity is continuously on the rise. DECA gives students the opportunity to develop fundamental leadership skills and grow in the field of business. As NC CDC 2025 comes to a close, 30 Green Hope DECA members are already preparing for the largest DECA international conference yet in April in Orlando, Florida.