Shenandoah Valley Student First From Schuylkill County to Qualify for National DECA Competition

A Shenandoah Valley junior will be the first Schuylkill Technology Center student to compete in the National Distributive Education Clubs of America competition next month.

George Lopez, an eleventh grade student at Shenandoah Valley and STC earned this spot after competing in a statewide competition held in Hershey between Feb. 21-23. 

Lope is enrolled in the Marketing and Business Administration program at the STC South Campus. STC operates a local DECA chapter, which dedicates itself to preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges worldwide. 

The national DECA competition takes place from April 26-May 4 in Anaheim, Calif.

While Lopez earned a spot in the national DECA competition, several other STC students placed first and medaled statewide. 

• First Place (Chapter Banner Event): Aiyana George, Pine Grove Area; Danika Samler, North Schuylkill.
• Triple Medal Winners: Sebastian Soto Cervantes (Food Marketing), Schuylkill Haven Area; Carson Farber (Marketing Communications), Tamaqua Area; Jordyn Moyer (Retail Merchandising), Blue Mountain; Danah Brozyno (Marketing Communications), Tamaqua Area; Carmine Berardino (Principles of Marketing), Schuylkill Haven Area.
• Double Medal Winners: Kaitlyn Zull (Food Marketing), Blue Mountain; Leah Purcell (Quick Serve Restaurant Management), Tri-Valley; Ashley Polanco (Buying and Merchandising), Mahanoy Area; Shelby McGlinchey (Buying and Merchandising), Schuylkill Haven Area; Nicole Neiswender (Apparel and Accessories Marketing), Minersville Area; Autumn Porter (Quick Serve Restaurant Management), Tamaqua Area.
• Single Medal Winner: Michael Heckman (Automotive Services Marketing), North Schuylkill.
• Others competing: Ali Alolaki (Principles of Business Management), Mahanoy Area; Leslie Paniagua (Sports and Entertainment Marketing), Shenandoah Valley; Jaicie Snyder (Marketing Communications), Blue Mountain; Kenzie Karkanica (Chapter Banner Event), Minersville Area. 

^{Photo (Left to Right/Front Row): Aiayna George, Pine Grove; Danika Samler, North Schuylkill; Danah Brozyno, Tamaqua; Shelby McGlinchey, Schuylkill Haven. (Second Row): Carmine Berardino, Schuylkill Haven; Leslie Paniagua, Shenandoah Valley; Kaitlyn Zulli, Blue Mountain; Nicole Neiswender, Blue Mountain; George Lopez Vazquez, Shenandoah Valley; Carson Farber, Tamaqua; Ali Alokai, Mahanoy Area; Autumn Porter, Tamaqua. (Third Row): Jordyn Moyer, Blue Mountain; Jaicie Snyder, Blue Mountain; Sebastian Soto Cervantes, Schuylkill Haven; Leah Purcell, Tri-Valley; Michael Heckman, North Schuylkill; Ashley Polanco and Mahanoy Area. Missing from Photo: Kenzie Karkanica, Minersville.}