(Enlarge) Ryan Fiore, Evan Nave, Justin Sowinski and Andrew Berkow display their medals won at the Maryland State DECA Career Development Conference, held March 5-6 in Annapolis. (Submitted photo)

Four Westminster High School students and members of DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), an international organization of high school marketing students, participated March 5-6 at the 46th annual Maryland DECA Career Development Conference at the Double Tree Hotel in Annapolis -- and three will now advance to an international conference in California.

Ryan Fiore earned first place in Accounting Applications Competency and also first in the Entrepreneurship Written Business Plan team event.

Evan Nave earned second place in the Accounting Applications Competency event.

Justin Sowinski earned a first place in the Entrepreneurship Written Business Plan team event.

And Andrew Berkow won third place in the Marketing Management Competency series event.

The first and second place wins of Ryan, Evan and Justin qualify them to represent Maryland and Carroll County at the International DECA Career Development Conference in Anaheim, Calif., April 29 to May 2. In Anaheim, the three will compete against more than 13,000 students from all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, Europe and Asia.

Peggy Payne, Business and Marketing Department chairperson and marketing program teacher at Westminster High, said, "These young men and women who seriously studied marketing, accounting and finance in high school will be the backbone of our business community in the future.

"We need to encourage and commend their focus and drive," she added.

In order to attend the International Competition, some $3,850 needs to be raised to cover travel and registration expenses for the three students and their advisor.

Since the cost must be raised by the students and advisor, any individual or business wishing to help sponsor a student's attendance may contact and send contributions to Peggy Payne, DECA advisor, Westminster High School, 1225 Washington Road, Westminster, MD 21157; or call her at 410-751-3630, ext. 276. DECA is a non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible. A receipt will be provided.

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