Nearly a dozen LCTI students are heading to the next level of competition thanks to standout performances during the Pennsylvania DECA State Career Development Conference held Feb. 20-23 in Hershey, Pa.

Eleven competitors from six Lehigh County high schools scored well enough in their events to secure spots at DECA’s international conference scheduled April 27-30 in Anaheim, Calif. 

Two students — Whitehall High School’s Zaravy Ramirez and DeAnthony Suarez — were elected Pennsylvania DECA state officers for 2024-2025. Ramirez will represent District 7 and Suarez is set to serve on Executive Council.

Northern Lehigh High School’s Julia Jachowicz won the DECA ICDC Pin Design contest for the second consecutive year. And Abbey Christman, of Northwestern Lehigh High School, won the DECA ICDC T-shirt Design contest. In addition, Jessica Dutan, of William Allen High School, and Jevon White, of Catasauqua High School, each won Pennsylvania DECA scholarships for $500. 

Below is a complete list of Lehigh Career & Technical Institute competitors who placed or medaled at the state conference. The 11 national qualifiers’ names are marked with asterisks.

William Allen High School

Gavin Bergolo, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

• Personal Financial Literacy: Gold Medal for Written, Role Play A and Role Play B

*Jessica Dutan, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

• School Store: 2nd Place
• Gold School-Based Enterprise-Food Operations

Alfonso Jaquez, Supply Chain Management & Logistics Technology

• Supply Chain Management: 2nd Place

Jaslene Rios, Supply Chain Management & Logistics Technology

• Supply Chain Management: Gold Medal for Role Play

Louis E. Dieruff High School

Nyah Chambers, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

• Principles of Finances: Gold Medal for Written, Role Play A and Role Play B

*Valeria Garcia Lopez, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

• Chapter Awards Project: 1st Place

Natasha Martinez, Marketing & Entrepreneuship

• Restaurant Full Serve Management: Gold Medal for Written, Role Play A and Role Play B

*Elianny Pillier, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

• Marketing Team Decision Making: Gold Medal for Written and Role Play
• Gold Membership Campaign

Nisayr Santiago, Supply Chain Management & Logistics Technology

• Supply Chain Management: Gold Medal for Role Play and Written

Catasauqua High School

*Jevon White, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

• Human Resources Management: Gold Medal for Written, Role Play A and Role Play B
• Gold Community Service Campaign

Emmaus High School

Damian Arndt, Advertising Design/Commercial Art

• Chapter Banner: 4th Place

Dominic Ruggeri, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

• Food Marketing Management: Gold Medal for Role Play B

Jacob Walter, Supply Chain Management & Logistics Technology

• Supply Chain Management: 1st Place

Northern Lehigh High School

*Julia Jachowicz, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

• Job Interview: 2nd Place
• DECA ICDC Pin Design Winner

Northwestern Lehigh High School

Abbey Christman, Advertising Design/Commercial Art

• PA DECA T-shirt Design Winner
• Chapter Banner: 4th Place

Jax Rivera, Advertising Design/Commercial Art

• Chapter Banner: 4th Place

*Sofhie Villalobos, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

• Female Modeling: 3rd Place
• Gold Promotional Campaign

*Aubrey Webster, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

• School Store: 2nd Place
• Gold Promotional Campaign
• Gold School-Based Enterprise-Food Operations

Parkland High School

Carter Campbell, Supply Chain Management & Logistics Technology

• Supply Chain Management: Gold Medal for Role Play

Brianna Mink, Advertising Design/Commercial Art

• Chapter Banner: 2nd Place

Athen Orlang, Supply Chain Management & Logistics Technology

• Supply Chain Management: 3rd Place

*Daniel Osmanovic, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

• Chapter Awards Project: 1st Place

Southern Lehigh High School

Kai Warstler, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

• Business Services Marketing: Gold Medal for Role Play A

Vivian Zeller, Advertising Design/Commercial Art

• Chapter Banner: 2nd Place

Whitehall High School

*Yalexa Gerena, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

• Marketing Team Decision Making: Gold Medal for Written and Role Play
• Gold Membership Campaign

*Zaravy Ramirez, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

• Chapter Awards Project: 1st Place
• Gold Promotional Campaign

*DeAnthony Suarez, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

• Human Resources Management: Gold Medal for Role Play A
• Gold Community Service Campaign

Allentown Central Catholic High School

• Anne Langan, Advertising Design/Commercial Art
• Chapter Banner: 2nd Place

Congratulations to all of LCTI’s competitors and best of luck to the national qualifiers!