The UCF College of Business Administration (#UCFBusiness) Collegiate DECA team received top honors at the 50th Annual State Career Development Conference. The conference, held in Orlando, brought together 26 schools from across Florida. Faculty advisor Carolyn Massiah, Ph.D., received the organization’s highest honor, the Honorary Life Membership Award, for her dedication to students and her service as a member of the Florida Association of Collegiate DECA Board of Directors. In addition, every UCF student who competed finished at the finalist level or better.

Massiah was thrilled with the recognition. “It is a phenomenal experience to watch these students develop their role-playing and case analysis skills over the year and then to utilize those skills to the best of their ability in competition. I am truly blessed to be able to advise, mentor and coach such an awesome group of students.”

Founded in 1946, DECA prepares students at the high school and collegiate level for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. The collegiate division includes over 15,000 members in 275 colleges and universities worldwide.

The #UCFBusiness Collegiate DECA team will next compete at the 54th Annual International Career Development Conference, to be held in Orlando from April 17-22.

Student awards included:

Outstanding Student of the Year

  • Julia Lopez

    • Chapter Activities

  • 4-star award

    • President’s Award

  • Julia Lopez

    • Membership Increase Award:

  • University of Central Florida

    • Highest Membership Increase Award:

  • University of Central Florida

    • Honorary Life Membership Award:

  • Carolyn Massiah, Ph.D.

    • Advertising Campaign:

  • Third Place – Timothy Ceballos, Akeem Sankey and Christopher Arndt

    • Business Ethics:

  • First Place – Christopher Burke-Jones, Jalysa Wilson
  • Finalist – Dee Dubose, Shawn Rysak
  • Finalist – Julian Reyes, Michael Machado
  • Finalist – Julia Lopez, Manuela Canela

    • Business-to-Business Marketing:

  • Second Place – Stephanie Steinhauser, Brynleigh Benak
  • Third Place – Paul Santonastaso, Emilee Jackson
  • Finalist – Matthew Marstaller
  • Finalist – Jeffrey Louis, Mohammed Ali
  • Finliast – Shane Carman, Keifer Schonefeld

    • Entrepreneurship – Starting a Business:

  • Third Place – Paul Santonastaso

    • Human Resource Management:

  • Third Place – Shawn Rysak
  • Finalist – Manuela Canela

    • International Marketing:

  • First Place – Brittany Lark, Chelcea Fowler
  • Second Place – Lisa Ben-Chaim, Simonas Baksys
  • Third Place – Leidy Galeano, Alba Urtecho

    • International Marketing:

  • First Place – Brittany Lark, Chelcea Fowler
  • Second Place – Lisa Ben-Chaim, Simonas Baksys
  • Third Place – Leidy Galeano, Alba Urtecho

    • Marketing Management:

  • Third Place – Emilee Jackson
  • Finalist – Brittany Lark

    • Professional Sales:

  • Finalist – Christopher Burke-Jones
  • Finalist – Jeffrey Louis
  • Finalist – Julian Brownlee

    • Sales Management Meeting:

  • Third Place – Candace Rodriguez

    • Sports and Entertainment Marketing:

  • Third Place – Juan Mejia, Cameron Lee

    • Accounting:

  • Second Place – Julia Lopez
  • Third Place – Daniel Gabriel
  • Finalist – Christopher Arndt

    • Banking and Financial Services:

  • First Place – Mohammed Ali

    • Corporate Finance:

  • First Place – Matthew Marstaller

    • Fashion Merchandising and Marketing:

  • Finalist – Brittany Flax

    • Hotel and Lodging:

  • Third Place – Shane Carman

    • Restaurant and Food Service:

  • Finalist – Juan Mejia
  • Finalist – Keifer Schonefeld
  • Finalist – Lisa Ben-Chaim

    • Retail Merchandising:

  • First Place – Chelcea Fowler
  • Third Place – Brynleigh Benak
  • Finalist – Jalysa Wilson
  • Finalist – Eris Hayes
  • Finalist – Julian Reyes