BPHS dominates 2024 DECA district conference

Patrick Romito, Staff Writer • December 16, 2024

BPHS DECA students proudly show off their trophies at the PA DECA district conference at Duquesne University on Dec. 12. 22 BPHS students qualified for the state conference. Photo courtesy of @bpdecachapter on Instagram

That’s another PA DECA district conference in the books for BPHS.

On Dec. 12, 45 BPHS students attended Duquesne University to compete in the PA DECA district conference.

The turnout was very successful for Bethel Park, as 22 of the 45 students who attended placed in the top three for singles and top four for teams in their respective categories.

That comes out to just under 50% of the BPHS students who competed in districts qualified for the state conference in February at Hershey, Pa.

All hopes are not lost for the 50% of BPHS students who unfortunately didn’t qualify for the state conference. They and other second-year or more DECA members who didn’t attend the conference will be able to compete in project events in February.

The following is the list of students who placed at the PA DECA district conference:

Andrea Solorzano – Apparel & Accessories Marketing (3rd place)
Aruzhan Akhmetkhali – Principles of Business Administration (1st place)
Audrey Campbell – Personal Financial Literacy (1st place)
Coulson Kozak – Principles of Entrepreneurship (3rd place)
Danielle Whitaker – Marketing Management Team (4th place)
Declan Finnegan – Marketing Management Team (4th place)
Emma Bianco – Retail Merchandising (1st place)
Emma Impellicceiri – Hotel & Lodging Management (3rd place)
Freya Blatz – Buying & Merchandising Team (1st place)
Hunter Slavonic – Marketing Communications (2nd place)
Jeffrey Rubican – Principles of Finance (2nd place)
Julia Pierson – Business Services Marketing (1st place)
Leena Miloua – Principles of Business Administration (2nd place)
Mallory Kuntz – Hospitality Services Team (1st place)
Molly Welch – Apparel & Accessories Marketing (1st place)
Nina DePasquale – Accounting (2nd place)
Owen Campbell – Accounting (1st place)
Patrick Romito – Sports & Entertainment Marketing (3rd place)
Robbie Devilling – Personal Financial Literacy (2nd place)
Sadie Orie – Hospitality Services Team (1st place)
Samantha Mullner – Business Services Marketing (3rd place)
Sara Impellicceiri – Restaurant & Food Service Management (1st place)
Saylor Stainbrook – Quick Serve Restaurant Management (3rd place)
Sydney Felicetti – Buying & Merchandising Team (1st place)
Travis Brucker – Principles of Marketing (3rd place)
Vince Ollio – Principles of Finance (3rd place)

These students will have a chance to showcase their skills and knowledge at the state conference.

The state conference is a premier event that brings together top DECA competitors from across Pennsylvania to compete, network, and learn from one another.

At the state conference, students will have the opportunity to compete in individual and team events, including role-plays, projects, and written tests.

They will also have the chance to attend workshops and seminars led by industry experts, and network with other DECA members from across the state.

These BPHS students are wished the best as they take a big step and prepare for this exciting event.

Bethel Park DECA

About the Contributor

Patrick Romito, Staff Writer

And that’s another Bethel Park Black Hawks win for the boys soccer team. Whether Patrick is on the soccer field or behind the keyboard, he’s always aiming to make an impact—one play and one story at a time. This year, Patrick Romito, an 11th grader, joins Scholastic Publications for the first time. When asked why he decided to sign up, Patrick said, “I took the class to get more involved in school activities.” With a clear passion for making the most of his high school experience, Patrick is eager to contribute to the class by writing articles for the Hawk Eye newspaper. He’s ready to take on whatever stories come his way, whether spotlight features, sports, or school news. Patrick is not just a writer; he’s also an accomplished athlete. With 12 years of soccer experience under his belt and as a three-year DECA member, he balances both extracurriculars and academics with ease. As someone who enjoys variety, he’s equally open to different kinds of stories, saying, “I enjoy writing in general, so whether it’s spotlights, sports, or school news-related content, it doesn’t matter to me.” Looking ahead, Patrick’s plans after high school include studying marketing and advertising, although he’s still deciding on a specific college. In the meantime, his favorite class is Law & You with Mr. Vic. He appreciates how the course prepares him for life after high school, and he enjoys Mr. Vic’s real-life stories that make each lesson engaging. Reflecting on his time in high school, Patrick recalls the excitement of attending football games as a freshman, where he formed friendships that have lasted throughout his high school years. “I really enjoyed going to the football games freshman year because I ended up making a lot of friends there, a lot of which I’m still friends with today,” he said. Outside of school, Patrick has worked as a lifeguard at Highpoint Fitness for almost two years, a job that highlights his dedication and work ethic. When he’s not working or playing soccer, he enjoys comedy movies, with Step Brothers being his top pick. And what’s his dream vacation? Patrick hopes to one day visit Italy. “My dream vacation is Italy because first, it is very beautiful there, as well as my family roots going back to there,” he shared. In just three words, Patrick describes himself as calm, caring, and hardworking — qualities that are sure to serve him well both in and out of the classroom. Keep an eye out for Patrick’s contributions to Hawk Eye this year as he dives into the world of scholastic publications! Written by: Grace Ferency, Staff Writer