Carly Rinda, a digital marketing instructor and DECA adviser, along with students, Gracie Heintzelman and Breydon Hand, spoke with the Joint Operating committee about their department and DECA. This is Rinda’s first year with the program, and she expressed her enthusiasm.

“It’s been a wonderful experience, lots of opportunities, and exciting things,” Rinda said.

Rinda provided a slideshow about the various outreach projects with which the Digital Marketing Department was involved through DECA.

“For us, DECA has really been incorporated throughout the curriculum and the classroom, as well as community service,” Rinda said.

Heintzelman, a junior from Panther Valley, also spoke about DECA.

“DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe,” Heintzelman said. “All of our chapter members love DECA. We have 22 members and are hoping to grow that number.”

Heintzelman said the school has two students who placed at states and will move onto the national competition. They are Breydon Hand and Jalin Burns.

School store

Hand, a junior from Lehighton, spoke about additions to the school store, including personalized CCTI keychains, tumblers, and a Pepsi-sponsored cooler for beverages.

“We developed new merchandise in the form of additional shirts, as well as personalized aprons for the staff,” he said. “And we have rearranged the store to maximize our available space.

“By working in the school store, I have learned several valuable skills that come with both marketing and entrepreneurship. Pricing, customer service, how to properly run a kiosk system, are just several of the skills I learned,” Hand added.

Leadership academy

In addition, three CCTI students were awarded spots for the Leadership Academy: Brooklynne Winger, 10th grader from Palmerton; Gracie Heintzelman; and Hannah Devonshire, 12th grader from Panther Valley.