When top high school students from around the country gather in Atlanta for national marketing competitions, nearly two dozen of those students will be from Great Oaks programs.  The participants qualified through state DECA competition.

DECA, the international association of high school and college marketing students, will host competitors from over 4,500 high schools.  Great Oaks students going to Atlanta are from Live Oaks as well as satellite programs at Milford, Sycamore, and Winton Woods High Schools.

Even among the top Ohio students, Great Oaks students stood out at the state-level competition.  Ali Boone (Milford High School) was the Top Ohio DECA Scholarship recipient, earning a $1,000 scholarship. 

The students competing in Atlanta are:

From the Milford High School e-marketing program:

Receiving “Best in the State” first place rankings were Milford DECA seniors April Camp in Entrepreneurship Participating, Randy Burgdorf in Sports & Entertainment Series, Ali Boone in Outstanding Marketing Education Student, and Laura Roessner and Marie Gertz in Advertising Campaign Team.  Juniors from Milford receiving “Best In The State” rankings were:  Laura Sonderman in the Quick Serve Restaurant Marketing Series event, Megan Hickok in the Marketing Management Series events, and Kyle Duffy and Bryan Nare in the General Marketing Research Written event.  April’s business was on a line of her own clothing.  Ali Boone completed a 100-page manual of her personal achievements and effort in the Milford Marketing Program.  Laura and Marke developed an advertising campaign utilizing the Cincinnati Reds. Kyle and Bryan developed a green marketing campaign with Coolest Toys On Earth in downtown historic Milford.  

Placing second in the state were:  Andrew Kitzmiller, Entrepreneurship Written; Zack Miller and Connor Stookey, Hospitality Services Management Team Decision Making; and Mark Swensen and Lucas Costanzo in Sports & Entertainment Marketing Management Team

Placing third in the state were:  Ali Boone, Community Service Chapter Project and Allie Wright, Retail Marketing Research Written  

Placing fourth in the state in Retail Merchandising Series was Ethan Schultz

From the Sycamore High School marketing management and research program:

Brett Simek and Sydnee Hosler (third place), Business Law and Ethics

Brittany Lintz (fifth place), Business Services Series

Winton Woods students competing in Atlanta are:

Noleena Booker (third place), Apparel and Accessories

Ariana Sanders and Ashley Wiehe (third place), Financial Services

Live Oaks’ national qualifier is:

Morgan Purdy of Clermont Northeastern (third place), Business Services Series