ESM DECA Earns International Recognition at Atlanta Conference
Eleven members of the East Syracuse Minoa DECA chapter made their mark on the international stage, traveling to Atlanta, Georgia, to compete at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) — one of the most prestigious business and marketing competitions in the world. With more than 26,000 students and advisors gathered from across the globe, the competition represented the very best that DECA has to offer, and our Spartans rose to the occasion.
International Finalists: Ava Burry, Khloe Welch & Emma Wilson-Hefti
Competing in the Project Management Sales Project category with their "Sales for Success" project, the team of Ava Burry, Khloe Welch, and Emma Wilson-Hefti delivered an exceptional performance, earning international finalist honors by placing in the top 18 out of 200 teams worldwide. That finish earned them a coveted spot in the International Finals Competition — an experience few students ever reach.
In front of an audience of more than 26,000 attendees, the trio walked across the stage to receive their medals before competing in the final round later that same day. For Emma Wilson-Hefti, the moment carried extra significance — her performance at ICDC earned her the distinction of becoming a two-time International Finalist, a remarkable achievement that speaks to her sustained excellence in DECA competition.
A Special Honor for Jared Bricco
Jared Bricco arrived at ICDC as a competitor and left with one of the most meaningful recognitions of his young career. Jared was honored at the conference for earning a highly competitive Army ROTC scholarship — a national award presented to students who demonstrate exceptional academics, leadership, and character.
At a special reception, Jared had the honor of meeting Deputy Commanding General Sean Crockett, who personally presented him with a challenge coin — a deeply meaningful tradition in military culture that represents personal recognition from senior leadership. During the closing ceremonies, Jared was celebrated on stage alongside just eight other ROTC scholarship recipients from across the country and received a scholarship medal. This recognition at one of DECA's biggest stages reflects Jared's dedication, work ethic, and commitment to a future of service and leadership.
Full ICDC Results
All eleven ESM DECA members who attended ICDC earned a Certificate of Achievement recognizing their participation at the international level. Nine of the eleven also earned a Certificate of Excellence for scoring 70% or better across all competitive event components in the preliminary rounds.
- International Finalist — Sales Project: Ava Burry, Khloe Welch, Emma Wilson-Hefti
- Career Development Project: Jared Bricco, Ososeno Ikihide, Jasmine Kennedy
- Financial Literacy Project: Amra Delic, Hailey Jacobs
- Innovation Plan: Ejla Muhic
- Thrive Emerging Leader Series: Brady Leib, Avery Wood
- Certificate of Excellence recipients: Jared Bricco, Ava Burry, Amra Delic, Ejla Muhic, Ososeno Ikihide, Hailey Jacobs, Jasmine Kennedy, Khloe Welch, Emma Wilson-Hefti
Congratulations to every member of the ESM DECA team, their advisors, and the families who supported them. You represented East Syracuse Minoa with pride, professionalism, and Spartan excellence on a truly global stage.