Stonehill DECA’s race to reach funding goals for Nationals

By Jordan Harrington

EASTON - Stonehill College’s DECA chapter might only look like a team of students presenting case studies and studying for exams, but behind all that is a high-stakes effort to raise around $30,000 before nationals in April.

This year, all 28 DECA students qualified at the state level and now can compete at nationals in Kentucky, Meredith Morse, DECA president, said.

“DECA competitions are built around case studies that span a variety of business topics,” said Renee Bernier, faculty advisor for the DECA chapter. “Students must analyze the situation, think on their feet, and present solutions to judges to simulate board meetings.”

According to DECA’s national impact report, nearly all members surveyed said the program helped them develop skills, such as problem-solving at 98 percent and communication at 97 percent, and more than nine in ten felt DECA prepared them academically for college and career success.

From fall recruitment to spring competition season, she sees students in the chapter grow.

“Often, most noticeably, it’s seeing students start to understand the concept of professionalism,” Bernier said.

Nationals, known as the International Career Development Conference (ICDC), represents the highest level of collegiate competition.

“It’s an opportunity for college students worldwide to compete against international competitors,” Bernier said. “Traveling to ICDC is an incredible opportunity for students to network with thousands of peers and get feedback on their professional skills.”

For returning competitor Shane Howes, that experience was life changing.

“Throughout last year, I grew so much as a speaker and presenter. ICDC was a competition, but it was also largely a learning experience,” Howes said.

Despite the cost, Howes believes the experience was worth it.

“Absolutely, the trip was worth the cost,” Howes said. “Just purely from a traveling perspective, the trip was less than it would be if I were to go on my own.”

Still, that cost remains one of the chapter’s biggest challenges.

DECA Treasure Angela DeMaio oversees the club's finances, making sure that they are on the right track to making the trip to nationals affordable.

“I coordinate with all the different organizations that give us money, organize fundraising efforts, track everything through budgets, and make projections of where I think we will be,” DeMaio said.

Before fundraising, attending nationals’ costs roughly $900 per student, that includes $350 for travel, $277 for lodging, and $150 for the registration, DeMaio said.

“The big question is always, are we going to have enough money?” DeMaio said. “That’s something I’m constantly looking at and making sure it happens.”

The chapter recieves travel funds from the Student Government, support from the Dean’s office, and a developing partnership with WB Mason, on top of the student-led fundraising.

“What I try to aim for is for it to be affordable for every member,” DeMaio said. “My goal is really to get it down to that $300 level so that any student who needs financial support can apply for the travel grant to offset any remaining costs.”

Even with those funding options, DeMaio said she is concerned. “I always worry about reaching our goal,” DeMaio said. “Every day.”

Leading the fundraising events on campus is Fundraising Chair Brady Ferrese, who plays another crucial role in reaching the funding goal.

“Planning these fundraisers takes a lot more time than you would imagine,” Ferrese said. “The real-time commitment comes with setting up the events and moving supplies around campus.”

The chapter’s fundraising goal this season is around $30,000. As of now, they are about 40 percent of the way there.

To close the gap, they rely on their grilled cheese sales at Brother Mike’s, which have become a campus staple. Members also sell hot chocolate in Meehan Hall during the winter months. Larger fundraisers include a raffle for Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins tickets and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament planned for late March.

Even small events can consume an entire day for DECA members.

“I had one particularly demanding day when hot chocolate sales ran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by raffle tabling from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.,” Ferrese said.

But the pressure goes way beyond that.

“Outside of not qualifying, the cost of the trip is the biggest wall for members,” Ferrese said. “I would be absolutely crushed if someone worked hard all year, qualified, and then couldn’t go because our trip was too expensive.”

Financial barriers are common in student competitions, Bernier said.

“Travel, lodging, registration fees, and professional attire can add up,” Bernier said. “For many students, the cost of attending can be a huge barrier, even if they’ve earned the opportunity to compete.”

For Howes, going to nationals goes beyond competition results.

“I think the one thing people don’t realize is how much closer you get with everyone in the chapter,” he said. “It is as much a bonding trip as it is a competition trip.”

If the chapter reaches its goal, all 28 qualifying students will have the opportunity to compete on an international stage, representing Stonehill. They will prove “what a group of people can truly accomplish when they work together,” Ferrese said.