March 22, 2024 -- Five Heights High Marketing Management CTE students had the chance to compete at the State of Ohio DECA Competition in Columbus from March 8 through 11.

Each student took a 100-question test in their chosen category of Marketing, Hospitality, Entrepreneurship, or Finance. Seniors Miyonne Alston-Bey and Amari Chandler then presented for ten to fifteen minutes on a marketing role-play scenario while juniors Da’Myah Blade, Ahava Ellis, and Asenath King presented in the Integrated Marketing Campaign Service Event.

The Integrated Marketing Campaign Event challenges students either individually or in teams of up to three to develop a marketing strategy that involves creating consistent campaigns to provide a cohesive experience for a customer across different platforms.

Since the fall, the three juniors have been researching and developing a proposal for “Serene Escape,” an outreach wellness service for 16 to 30 year olds to “create an awareness of mental health and teach that being in a more mindful state can benefit your life.” It would accomplish this by helping their members to increasing their mental awareness, decreasing their electronic usage, and teach them how to cope in stressful situations and maintain personal awareness.

And they created a proposal that truly impressed the judge and their competitors. From designing the logo and marketing materials, breaking down the budget and schedule for the four-week program, and doing extensive research on the impact that social media and electronic usage has on their target audience’s mental health. In comparison to the other proposals, according to Da’Myah theirs was “really unique and the judge hopes that it can become an actual service.”

Despite an impressive proposal and presentation, the students’ scores on the 100-question test prevented them from placing in their event. “We’re really bummed that we didn’t place,” said Asenath, “but we learned a lot for next year and we want to do it again.”

“The students who competed are learning soft skills, presentation skills, and other business and marketing competencies and applying them to real world business and marketing related situations,” said Sarah Parker, the Marketing Management instructor and DECA advisor. “These attributes will serve them well as they pursue promotions, degrees, certificates, and more post-graduation.”

DECA, an Association of Marketing Students, is the co-curricular club of Marketing Management, one of the Heights Consortium Career Technical Education programs offered at Cleveland Heights High School.

Juniors Ahava Ellis and Asenath King will go on to attend the Thrive Leadership Academy that is part of the DECA International Career Development Conference in Anaheim, California from April 26 through May 1. There they will have the opportunity to attend workshops, gain practical experiences through hands-on activities, and network with professionals in their fields of interest and students from around the world.

“We’re really excited,” said Ahava in regard to attending the leadership academy. And they are looking forward to participating in more competitions next year so they can continue to improve their campaign, feel more confident and prepared for the test portion, and place at next year’s DECA state competition.