The Woodhaven DECA chapter has held meetings with Marketing teacher Lisa Meyer to plan their goals for this school year. Members shared their ideas with the Woodhaven DECA chapter and began to plan out each event and coordinate with other organizations.

Since the beginning of the school year, Woodhaven DECA has hosted many events helping our community, such as Downriver for Veterans, Unified, Cycle Trip, and Apples for Ryan. 

Andrew Schroka, Gabbie Randazzo, and Logan Menge had met with Downriver for Veterans coordinator Ann Rudicil to help plan these events. DECA has been helping with the Downriver for Veterans Organization for many years. Woodhaven’s last football game against Edsel Ford. Students wore the colors red, white, and blue. DECA members collected money to donate to these veterans. These students had raised roughly $450 before halftime and donated it to the Downriver for Veterans. These veterans also received free entry and food.

DECA president Randazzo explained that she and her partners Schroka and Menge have been working on their DECA project on the Downriver for Veterans. She qualified for internationals in Orlando, FL last school year. She has found a passion for helping these veterans.

Randazzo stated, “I get to share my passion for helping those in need within this project makes me overall more motivated to keep doing more.”

Next, DECA members Ashlyn Koester, June Lusk, and Maggie O’Such worked with Alicia Flynn to plan ideas and ways to help these Unified athletes. Unified is just finishing its bowling season up. DECA attends their bowling matches and supports these athletes. Their last bowling matches with friends and family and celebrated with goodie bags, cake, and certificates. 

Unified will be heading into Basketball season next. Board member Koester states, “It was great to be a part of an organization like Unified and be able to watch how things we do make them happy and have a good time.” 

As DECA continues to prepare each level at WHS, Sophomores to Seniors will be competing at Districts in December, States in March, and will be competing to qualify for Internationals in California this year. Hopefully, I can bring a glass home! While second and third-year students help finish their projects by giving back to the community.