Downers Grove South Students Awarded at Anaheim Career-Development Conference

Four Downers Grove South High School students recently recieved awards at the DECA International Career Development Conference, an Anaheim, California competition attended by over 16,000 students from across the nation.

Jackie Clifford, Madelynn Kuerschner and Samarth Malhotra each placed in the top 10 overall in the "Grand Awards" for Entrepreneurship Promotion Project, Fashion Merchandising Promotion Project and Accounting, respectively.

Grant Johnson recieved a yellow ribbon for a high score in Hopsitality and Tourism Professional Selling; Malhotra also received a high-score ribbon.

Other DGS attendees were Mark Guzik, Monica Kolli, Bridget O’Toole, Swathi Pillalamarri and Akila Shanmugham.

“The students had a tremendous national conference,” South High teacher and sponsor Stacey Polen, who has served as an advisor for 12 years, said in a press release. “South High has never had a Top 10 Winner at the national competition and this year we have three!”

According to the release, DECA is "an organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe."

More information about DECA is available at their official website.