Desert Sunrise Students Celebrate Orlando School’s Historic Milestone

Desert Sunrise High School has reached a significant milestone by sending students to the DECA International Career Development Conference for the first time. This achievement marks an impressive step for the school’s newly established chapter.

Under the guidance of hospitality management teacher and DECA advisor Jennifer Salina, students Julian Rogalla and Kaelyn Miller represented Desert Sunrise in Orlando, Florida. They joined a total of 14 participants from Maricopa alongside 20,000 students nationwide.

Rogalla and Miller were among 39 students selected from Arizona to attend the conference.

“We’re a brand new DECA chapter this year,” said Salina. “The fact that we even made it to ICDC is huge.”

DECA, known as the Distributive Education Clubs of America, focuses on preparing students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management through competitive events and industry evaluations. Although based in Virginia, it has a global presence with chapters in 10 countries.

During the event, Rogalla, a junior, and Miller, a sophomore, participated in the Ignite Leadership Academy, a program tailored for first-time attendees to hone their networking skills and leadership abilities.

Reflecting on the experience, Rogalla noted, “My biggest takeaway was that the competition starts as soon as you get there because judges notice the small things.”

Miller added, “Watching Maricopa High School DECA competitors showed me how efficient and exciting this competition is. I’m really looking forward to next year.”

The four-day conference challenged students to step outside their comfort zones, facilitating interactions with peers from seven different states. Salina observed, “It was awkward at first, but by the end, they had six new best friends across the country.”

Rogalla echoed this sentiment, stating, “It brought me out of my comfort zone and helped me connect with people from all over.” Miller appreciated the opportunity to meet others who share his interests.

Salina, who joined the Maricopa Unified School District last year, has transitioned from a 20-year career as a hairstylist and business owner. “COVID changed everything for me. I didn’t want to do it anymore,” she remarked. “Now, I’m using my business background to prepare these kids for the future and I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had.”

Both students found the DECA role-play events particularly engaging. “They make you think on the spot,” Rogalla said.

Looking ahead, Salina plans to build on this experience through weekly role-plays, aiming to increase Desert Sunrise’s participation in DECA events next year.

However, the trip wasn’t solely focused on competition. The group also enjoyed daily visits to Universal Studios, which Salina deemed “a great addition to the experience.”

Salina expressed gratitude to MHS DECA advisor Bernadette Russoniello and her students for their support in preparing for the conference, emphasizing, “None of this would have been possible without them.”

Rogalla concluded with enthusiasm, “I’m excited to do it all again next year … Hopefully with more people. The more we bring, the better it’ll be for our chapter.”