Jeffrey Victor

By Nicholas Brophy

• Do prepare for competition. Of course, SCDC is a fun and exciting experience. But more than that, it is a chance to showcase the skills you have developed and the work you have devoted to your competition. Study, go over your presentations, meditate — whatever may help you get on stage to earn that DECA glass.
• Don’t hide away in your room. The State Conference is an opportunity to meet and network with people from across New Jersey. These peers can help give advice on competition, provide new opinions or ideas, or simply serve as new friends during your time in Atlantic City.
• Do wear proper clothing. Dress code should be followed at all times, especially when competing. When participating in Downtown DECA, we encourage all members to wear casual clothes — including jeans — as long as they are appropriate. We also implore all members to wear their NJ State Conference shirt, which displays that they are #NJDECABOLD.
• Don’t get discouraged if things don’t go your way. Sometimes competition doesn’t always go as you expect it. However, you should take these small deterrents and use them to improve and excel in future competitions. As long as you try your best, you should keep your head up!
• Do follow the rules. For much of States, you will be on your own or with your friends. Without direct supervision at all times, it may seem easy to do things you shouldn’t do. Try to avoid making a bad mistake that will get you into trouble — or worse, sent home.
• Don’t forget any essentials. Packing for SCDC can be overwhelming; you are trying to figure out which clothes still fit, which shoes you should bring, and which blazer looks most stylish. While doing so, you may forget about more basic necessities, like toothpaste, a toothbrush, a hairbrush, snacks, etc. A more comprehensive list of essential materials can be found in the article “States Survival Guide,” written by State President Dana Schoolsky.

Often the most overlooked aspect of DECA competition is the written test. While the 100 point exam may seem insignificant in comparison to the role play, a high score can be the difference between advancing to ICDC or going home empty-handed. Here are a few tips for maximizing your test score and your chances at floating down the Hilton Orlando’s lazy river.

Practice Makes Perfect

The questions that comprise the written test are designed to make studying very difficult. That doesn’t mean preparation is unnecessary. In fact, taking practice tests is the most effective way to prepare for the exam. Repeated exposure to the style of questions asked makes the questions on the real test all the more easy to recognize (and answer correctly). DECA practice tests are easily accessible online and will help boost that score.

Process of Elimination

The best way to increase your odds of answering a question correctly is by eliminating some of your options. For example, if a question asks, Which of the following is a respectful way to introduce yourself to a potential employer?, immediately eliminating options that are clearly too extreme, such as Shout in anger, will help increase the likelihood of selecting the correct answer.

(Educated) Guessing

Occasionally, you will be faced with a question to which you do not know the answer. Certain questions may ask about specific laws or policies, and others may ask about business practices relating to a field you know nothing about. Not knowing is OK. There is no guessing penalty on the written test, so answering every question, even with a guess, is the best strategy. Using context clues, combined with the aforementioned “Process of Elimination,” will help you maximize your chances of getting the right answer. And remember, if you’re really stumped, choose C.

Overall, it’s extremely important not to take the written test for granted. Prepare sufficiently with practice tests, and make the best use out of test taking strategies for those extra-tough questions. And who knows, maybe you’ll even win an instructional award too.

By Hailey Imbasciani

*All members must adhere to the following dress code:

• Business suit, Sport Coat, or DECA Blazer with:
  1. Blouse or
  2. Collared Dress Shirt and appropriate neckwear (necktie or scarf)
     
• Dress Pants or Skirt (at a length at or below the knee) with:
  1. Collared Dress Shirt with appropriate neckwear (necktie or scarf)
  2. Blouse or
  3. Optional matching dress jacket, blazer, DECA blazer, or sweater.
• Dress Shoes

Unacceptable Attire Includes:

1. Skirts with a length shorter than at or below the knee.
2. Tops with low cut fronts, open sides, open backs, see through, tube, halter, strapless, sleeveless, off-the- shoulder or midriff tops.
3. Denim of any color; jeans;
4. Leggings or graphic designed hosiery/tights
5. Cocktail, formal or transparent dresses.
6. String or bolo ties.
7. Collarless, sleeveless, cut off, golf shirts, polo-style shirts or bare midriff shirts.
8. Shorts of any kind.
9. Clothing with printing that is suggestive, obscene or promotes illegal substances or other items which would be considered inappropriate in the home school.
10. Skin-tight or revealing clothing.
11. Sneakers, Sperry/Topsider/Boat Shoes, canvas shoes (espadrilles or Tom’s-style shoes), moccasins or sandals.
12. Hiking, work, army, thigh high, over the knee, riding, Ugg-Style, biker, Wellington, mukluk, gladiator, or cowboy boots
13. Athletic clothing
14. Sunglasses
15. Swimwear
16. Winter/outdoor wear (i.e. Outdoor leather, denim, jean jackets or coats)

DECA Dress Code

By Alex Ruhl

Below is the dress code required when appearing before a judge in order to prevent penalty points from being assessed against an individual or team.

Acceptable During DECA Activities

• 1. Business suit, Sport Coat, or DECA Blazer with:
     1. Blouse or
     2. Collared Dress Shirt and appropriate neckwear (necktie or scarf)
  2. Dress Pants or Skirt (at a length at or below the knee) with:
     1. Blouse or
     2. Collared Dress Shirt with appropriate neckwear (necktie or scarf)
  • Optional matching dress jacket, blazer, DECA blazer, or sweater.
• Dress shoes (no Sperry Top-Siders)
• It is recommended, but not required that DECA members wear appropriate hosiery or socks.

**At District and State Competition, no blazer is required.  At ICDC, competitors must wear a DECA blazer when appearing in front of a judge.

Unacceptable During DECA Activities

• 1. Skirts with a length shorter than at or below the knee.
  2. Tops with low cut fronts, open sides, open backs, see through, tube, halter, strapless, sleeveless, off-the- shoulder or midriff tops.
  3. Denim of any color; jeans;
  4. Leggings or graphic designed hosiery/tights
  5. Cocktail, formal or transparent dresses.
  6. String or bolo ties.
  7. Collarless, sleeveless, cut off, golf shirts, polo-style shirts or bare midriff shirts.
  8. Shorts of any kind.
  9. Clothing with printing that is suggestive, obscene or promotes illegal substances or other items which would be considered inappropriate in the home school.
  10. Skin-tight or revealing clothing.
  11. Sneakers, Sperry/Topsider/Boat Shoes, canvas shoes (espadrilles or Tom’s-style shoes), moccasins or sandals.
  12. Hiking, work, army, thigh high, over the knee, riding, Ugg-Style, biker, Wellington, mukluk, gladiator, or cowboy boots
  13. Athletic clothing
  14. Sunglasses
  15. Swimwear
  16. Winter/outdoor wear (i.e. Outdoor leather, denim, jean jackets or coats)

  Remember, twenty points will be subtracted for dress code violations in each section of a competitive event (written test, role-plays, or manual interview), so be sure to be in dress code!

Where is Team 57 Now?

By Dustin Rosenfeld

Every new year of DECA brings a new team of New Jersey State Officers who are excited to lead the state at every conference. Every new year of DECA also means saying goodbye to the previous team of Has-Been-Officers. While Team 58 is looking forward to a great year ahead, the members of Team 57 have been living life to the fullest after finishing their terms as New Jersey State Officers. So, where is Team 57 Now?

• Team 57 President Natalie Giammanco is furthering her education at Pennsylvania State University.
• Team 57 Northern Region VP Danny Breslow is pursuing a degree at Georgetown University.
• Team 57 Central Region VP Kevin McIlvaine is a proud Buckeye at Ohio State University.
• Team 57 Southern Region VP Rachel Lynch is now serving as the 2018-2019 North Atlantic Region VP for DECA Inc. Along with continuing her education at High Point University.
• Team 57 VP of Public Relations Taylor Molina is a senior at Leonia High School and an officer of her local DECA chapter.
• Team 57 Recording Secretary Nick Kaufman is studying at the College of William & Mary.