PHS DECA team qualifies 5 for international event

PHOENIX ― Five Phoenix High students performed well enough at the Oregon state Distributive Education Clubs of America competition to qualify for the DECA International Career Development Conference, set for April 23-26 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Seniors Zyan Shull-Bain and Courtney House, sophomore Ava Robinson and freshmen Makaio Potts and David Arellano earned the right to compete in DECA’s annual event by finishing in the top three or securing an at-large bid during an Oregon qualifier, held Feb. 15-16 in Portland.

DECA competitions evaluate students’ knowledge and skills in a wide range of business categories, from hospitality to finance and everything in between, by testing their knowledge base and rating their performance in simulated high-pressure business situations.

At the state competition, Shull-Bain won the personal financial literacy event to qualify for internationals for the third year in a row. House qualified for internationals in business services marketing, Robinson in apparel marketing, and Potts and Arellano earned their trip to Atlanta by placing third in a team event, marketing management team decision-making.

Neill Carvalho, who has helped the program qualify 34 students for internationals since 2014, is in his 24th and final year coaching Phoenix High’s DECA team. A PHS business and technology teacher, Carvalho is set to retire following the 2021-22 school year after having led at least one student to internationals each of the last 14 years.

Between registration, lodging and transportation, the trip will cost each student about $1,200. Those who would like to donate to the team to help cover the cost of travel expenses can contact Carvalho at neill.carvalho@phoenix.k12.or.us.