DECA AT&T Year in Review | 2022-2023

#DECAATTPROJECT YEAR IN REVIEW

2022-2023

#DECAATTPROJECT COMMEMORATES A RECORD BREAKING YEAR

Through the support of AT&T, DECA students across the country celebrated the 2022-23 school year as one of breaking records. The ninth year of the #DECAATTProject surpassed the goals and expectations in schools, volunteers, events, and competitions. Even though this year was monumental in a variety of ways for the project, one student reminded us of what collaboration is all about; “While preparing for competition, a mentor reminded me to always keep learning no matter the results. It is the times when you do not win or succeed that teach you the most. This year has become a life-changing experience because I was able to grow with my peers through the help of AT&T mentors.” Hundreds of other high school students across the nation expressed this sentiment when asked to reflect on their time being part of the #DECAATTProject Collaborations, like that of DECA and AT&T, lead to growth, learning, and change. In partnership comes perseverance and paramount accomplishments.

THE CHART TOPPING BREAKDOWN

4,104

STUDENTS SERVED

In the 2022-23 school year, the project broke record after record. From the number of schools and states participating to the number of students served, the project soared to new heights. A total of 4,104 students were served this year! Of these students, 1,875 interacted with AT&T volunteers by engaging in mentoring events at the local, state, and/or national level through DECA’s competitive events program, and special on-site college, career, or leadership workshops.

The remaining 2,229 students comprised the traditional #DECAATTProject , serving 44 schools in 22 states. The demographics of the #DECAATTProject are described as follows:

STUDENTS COMPRISED THE TRADITIONAL #DECAATTPROJECT, SERVING 44 SCHOOLS IN 22 STATES

1,875

2,229 STUDENTS INTERACTED WITH AT&T VOLUNTEERS BY ENGAGING IN MENTORING EVENTS AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND/OR REGIONAL LEVEL

74% 50% 50% 70%

SELF-REPORTED MINORITY POPULATION

MALE

FEMALE

RECEIVED FREE OR REDUCED MEALS

# DECAATTProject

THE IMPACT OF INTERACTION

In collaboration with DECA partner, Encoura, a subsidiary of ACT, students in the #DECAATTProject completed surveys created to discover the effect of the project on students’ college and career plans and their subsequent readiness for each. The results are included below:

OVER TWO-THIRDS REPORTED ATTAINMENT OF 21ST CENTURY SKILLS OF COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATION, CREATIVITY, AND CRITICAL THINKING.

IMPROVED PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR SKILLS.

OVER ONE-HALF REPORTED THAT THIS PROJECT CONNECTED SCHOOL TO THE REAL WORLD.

HELPED TO PREPARE THEM ACADEMICALLY FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS.

EMPOWERED THEM TO BE EFFECTIVE LEADERS.

ONE STUDENT’S STORY

The #DECAATTProject has led some students to break their own personal records. Take Termariyon Spencer, a rising senior at Overton High School (OHS) in Memphis, Tennessee, for example. As a junior, this was Termariyon’s first year participating in DECA, an activity that seemed daunting and far out of his comfort zone. Born with Albinism, a genetic disorder that greatly affects his vision, Termariyon decided not to let anything hold him back from achieving his goals this year. DECA provides students with the chance to network and hone their professional skills, making it the perfect opportunity for Termariyon to expand his horizons.

AT&T mentors helped teach OHS students about carrying themselves with confidence in professional, competitive, and personal settings. Thanks to the financial support and mentorship from AT&T, OHS DECA students, including Termariyon, got the chance to compete at the Tennessee State Career Development Conference (SCDC) in Chattanooga. While Spencer didn’t make it to the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) this year, he is already looking forward to next year. Equipped with the knowledge mentors have passed along to Termariyon, he feels confident in his ability to get to ICDC next year.

THE SCHOOLS

Forty-four schools were selected to participate in the #DECAATTProject in the 2023 school year, an unprecedented high. In fact, the project grew by 30 percent since 2022. Schools were selected based on the following criteria:

• A student population that matches the AT&T Believe in Education target audience.

• Local DECA chapter advisor and school administration support the program’s goals and responsibilities.

• State DECA advisor support for program goals and responsibilities.

• Proximity to AT&T offices and/or volunteer interest.

Prairie Grove High School, Fayetteville, AR

Robinson High School, Little Rock, AR

Carlmont High School, Belmont, CA (San Francisco area)

Chino Hills High School, Chino Hills, CA

Downtown Magnets High School, Los Angeles, CA

Elizabeth Learning Center, Los Angeles, CA

Folsom High School, Sacramento, CA

Overland High School, Aurora, CO

Smoky Hill High School, Denver, CO

Lyman High School, Orlando, FL

Southwest Miami Senior High School, Miami, FL

Paul Duke STEM High School, Norcross, GA

Tri-Cities High School, Atlanta, GA

East Aurora High School, Aurora, IL (Chicago area)

Streamwood High School, Streamwood, IL (Chicago area)

Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, IN

Pleasure Ridge Park High School, Louisville, KY

Broadmoor High School, Baton Rouge, LA

Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, Boston, MA

I had never been to Chattanooga or even outside of Memphis with my school before and am grateful to AT&T, for the experience. I’m looking forward to future DECA events and am thankful for all that the #DECAATTProject has offered me.”

Termariyon Spencer, Overton High School, TN

UNEQUALED EVENTS

In 2020, the #DECAATTProject adapted to virtual meetings to keep mentorship opportunities possible and safe. This past year, the project saw in-person meetings back on the rise with 80 events happening face-to-face. Virtual sessions set forth because of the pandemic have allowed the project to reach students and mentors all over the country and provided opportunities that were not previously available. In the 2022-23 school year, AT&T employees mentored young scholars in 75 virtual events. Together these events amounted to 155 for the whole year, a record high for the project!

Gulfport High School, Gulfport, MS

Pattonville High School, St. Louis, MO

Riverview Gardens High School, St. Louis, MO

Greece Olympia High School, Rochester, NY

Pisgah High School, Canton, NC (Asheville area)

South Brunswick High School, Wilmington, NC

Cleveland Heights High School, Cleveland, OH

North High School, Akron, OH

Northeast High School, Philadelphia, PA

Eastside High School, Greenville, SC

RB Stall High School, Charleston, SC

Overton High School, Memphis, TN

Bryan Adams High School, Dallas, TX

Deer Park High School, Houston, TX

Duncanville High School, Dallas, TX

Newman Smith High School, Dallas, TX

Nimitz High School, Dallas, TX

North Garland High School, Dallas, TX

Shadow Creek High School, Houston, TX

Skyline High School, Dallas, TX

Townview Center, Dallas, TX

WT White High School, Dallas, TX

Taylorsville High School, Salt Lake City, UT

Tyee High School, Seattle, WA

Greenfield High School, Greenfield, WI (Milwaukee area)

#DECAATTPROJECT NEW THIS YEAR

HACEMOS

In August, HACEMOS formally joined the #DECAATTProject , and different chapters across the country quickly began mentoring schools in their area. While welcoming HACEMOS to the project, five schools in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Texas also came aboard.

The HACEMOS Atlanta Chapter hit the ground running with their mentee school Paul Duke STEM High School (PDSHS) in Norcross, Georgia. PDSHS students have received the opportunity to collaborate with HACEMOS Atlanta mentors in planning their annual 5k! Students are helping with every step along the way from graphic design to event planning and promotion. During each preparation phase, HACEMOS mentors are teaching students how to put together a large-scale professional event and engage with their community.

Working with HACEMOS has taught me that the world finds ways to support positive goals. As a Hispanic student, I want to try every opportunity I can in honor of my family. The #DECAATTProject has given me the chance to expand my view of the future. It makes me so happy knowing a company like AT&T is working to make life-changing experiences accessible for students like me.”

DECA Member, Paul Duke STEM High School, GA

FIELD OPERATIONS AND WOMEN IN NETWORK (WIN)

This year, the project welcomed Field Operations and Women in Network (WIN) to our list of AT&T collaborators. With gusto, members from Field Operations and WIN established nine school partnerships all over the country! Students from Arkansas, California, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin got the opportunity to participate in a special kind of hands-on mentorship. Each in-person meeting gave students the chance to see what the boots-on-the-ground professionals do on an average workday. While hearing about mentors’ career paths, students also learned critical tips and tricks for interviewing, resume-building, and professionalism.

My AT&T mentors taught me to think creatively because there are many different paths to get to the career you want. One female mentor specifically inspired me to pursue engineering with more vigor. As a young woman, it was an amazing experience to see her thriving in a male-dominated field and challenging societal norms. I can’t thank her enough for the way she has impacted my future goals.”

DECA Member, Greenfield High School, WI

Our DECA events were the perfect opportunity for the Women in Network and the AT&T Field Operations team to partner in not only bridging the digital divide, but also building relationships with potential future AT&T talent! Our volunteers resoundingly told us how meaningful it was for them to share their experience and knowledge with these amazing young adults. We look forward to growing our partnership with more events in the fall.”

Reneé Waibel, Area Manager – Technology, Process and Enablement, AT&T, CEO, Women in Network

THE NETWORK AND WOMEN OF AT&T

Joining together, The NETwork and Women of AT&T members in the Atlanta area began their collaboration with DECA. This year, AT&T mentors got the chance to meet with Tri-Cities High School students both virtually and in person. Students had the privilege of learning design thinking and innovation from AT&T technical professionals. Another highlight of the year was when students and mentors went on a college tour road trip around the city of Atlanta.

The #DECAATTProject has opened doors and showed me opportunities that I never knew of before. I previously thought that college would be an unattainable goal for me because of the price. However, after going on a college tour throughout Atlanta with AT&T mentors, I learned that there are lots of scholarships and methods to make it affordable. My AT&T mentors reminded me on the trip that trying and making an honest effort is the first step to succeeding.”

DECA Member, Tri-Cities High School, GA

COLLEGE TOUR FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE

Across the country, students in the #DECAATTProject explored college campuses and the different possibilities their future could hold. The collaboration between AT&T and DECA emphasizes helping students discover new paths in education, and their potential careers. For many students in the project, college may seem elusive due to the financial burden or challenge as a first-generation college attendee. However, on these trips, mentors helped teach the students how to apply for financial aid, scholarships, and grants to make college a possibility for anyone who dreams of going. On the Tri-Cities college tour of Morris Brown College, Clark Atlanta University, and Atlanta Technical College, AT&T mentors surveyed students on their interest in attending a 2-or 4-year college before and after their mentorship trip. Their results found that 83% of students who did not or somewhat want to attend college converted to planning on going to a 2-or 4-year collegiate institution. Mentors shared their own stories on the impacts of higher education and how it shaped their career paths. These tours gave students the opportunity to explore a physical college campus while encouraging them to consider the endless possibilities college could provide in their minds.

The DECA/AT&T trip to the University of Texas at Dallas was a huge success! Students and staff of Bryan Adams alike praised the great presentations from the AT&T mentors and guests. Students were able to experience the beautiful campus and what life on campus could be like. Our students felt like AT&T rolled out the red carpet just for them. The tour was such an impactful experience; one student informed me that she began considering UT Dallas as an option for her after graduation because of the trip.”

Tracy Reed, Assistant Principal, Bryan Adams High School, TX

My favorite part of the #DECAATTProject was our trip to Lincoln University with the AT&T mentors. I loved getting to walk around the campus with my mentors and hearing about their college and career paths. At first, going on a college campus and networking seemed out of my comfort zone, but it ended up being a great experience. The trip made me rethink my future and consider how I could channel my passions into my education and future career.”

DECA Member, Riverview Gardens High School, MO

We are so thankful to be a bridge between great organizations like DECA and our next generational workforce of students. DECA is an amazing program, allowing students to connect with professionals to provide inspiration, motivation, and resources to encourage and help students pursue, not only higher education but also to correctly position themselves for success with being the next generation of leaders. Together, we are the impact!”

Nicole Slay Caldwell, Software Delivery Services, AT&T, Chapter President, The NETwork BICP- Metro Atlanta

TRIUMPHANT TIMES IN TAYLORSVILLE

The Taylorsville High School DECA chapter outside of Salt Lake City, Utah, is described by their advisor, Rebecca Nasser, as scrappy, unwavering, but above all else, supportive. Meet one member of their team, Shaza Abdelrasoul, a rising junior. She is a dedicated student, team player, and record breaker.

Though quiet upon first meeting, Shaza is already achieving big things within her family, school, and on the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) main stage. Despite her shy beginnings, as the school year went on, Nasser, witnessed how the comradery of the DECA chapter and the support of AT&T mentors helped bring Shaza out of her shell. Shaza spent the year preparing to compete in DECA’s Personal Financial Literacy category. Abdelrasoul’s tireless work on her DECA project paid off as she succeeded in her district, state, and finally ICDC competitions.

“I was ecstatic to be named a finalist in Personal Financial Literacy at ICDC’s awards ceremony, especially because I am only a sophomore!” exclaimed Shaza. Well, then imagine her surprise when she was announced to be the overall firstplace winner of her competition! “Winning first place was so unbelievable that I momentarily forgot to step forward to the podium because I was so shocked,” she continued. Once that split second of awe passed, Shaza stepped forward and claimed her first-place trophy. At that moment, Shaza Abdelrasoul became the first overall DECA ICDC winner in Taylorsville High School’s history and in the entirety of the DECA AT&T Project!

The whole Taylorsville team, including AT&T mentors, celebrated the win with spirit and pride. Farron Scarborough, a Taylorsville mentor from AT&T External and Legislative Affairs, heard about Shaza’s win and said “I had absolute faith in her! She is the best I’ve ever encountered; all the AT&T mentors are so happy for her!”

AT&T mentors have given Taylorsville students like Shaza pivotal competition advice as well as guidance on their life goals. According to Shaza, “The #DECAATTProject helped me prepare for DECA competitions and presentations in general. The best piece of advice a mentor gave me is to tailor my presentations and depth of explanation to my target audience. That advice guided me to succeed at ICDC and I know it will assist me in my future education and career pursuits.” Shaza is not alone in her gratitude to AT&T mentors. Advisor Rebecca Nasser heard over and over again from her students that they attribute their success in competitions and other presentations to their mentors; “they have helped students learn to breathe, communicate, and fake confidence whenever they aren’t feeling it.” Clearly, the advice paid off!

Now, Shaza and the Taylorsville team can’t wait to get back to ICDC to bring more international titles to the DECA/AT&T collaboration and back to Utah. Even though she still has two years of high school ahead of her, Shaza plans to attend college after graduating from Taylorsville in 2025. The path Shaza is on will lead her to break another record, becoming the first person in her family to attend college. As we all excitedly wait to see what Shaza’s and the Taylorsville High School DECA chapter’s future holds, we can take this time to celebrate a momentous year of breaking records in the #DECAATTProject

APPRECIATION AND APPLAUSE FOR AT&T

In April, the #DECAATTProject welcomed 23 of our participating schools to ICDC in Orlando, Florida! After a fun and rigorous week at ICDC, #DECAATTProject students, chapter advisors, state advisors, and local AT&T mentors gathered to celebrate another successful year. Each year, the DECA/AT&T reception at ICDC gives participants the ability to network with their peers from all over the country. While sharing success stories, attendees were given the opportunity to express their memories and gratitude from the past year participating in the #DECAATTProject . Included below are testimonies that highlight the impact the collaboration had in the past year.

As we wrap up another year of DECA, I look back on the continued support of DECA/AT&T Project as another success story. I know for a fact that the students from Pattonville High School and Riverview Gardens High School would not have had the opportunity to experience DECA as they did this year without AT&T’s support. The DECA Power Trip that the Riverview Garden’s students were able to attend was life-changing. Every time I see the advisor, she stops me and tells me about another memory of their experiences, the networking, the mentoring, lessons learned, and more!”

La rry Anders, Chartered Association Advisor, Missouri DECA

SNEAK PEAK OF 2023-2024

This past year, students were able to ‘Get the Edge’ and ring in a record-breaking year with the #DECAATTProject. Now we have the opportunity to look forward and see what the future holds. The 2023-2024 year is already taking shape with new partnerships, events, and schools. Plans for the coming year include expanding programs with HACEMOS, The NETwork, Women of AT&T, Women In Network, and Field Operations. These additional AT&T mentors will help provide students with a unique opportunity to receive hands-on mentorship, something that is not easily matched! Next school year, chapter advisors and students will also be able to add the use of The Achievery created by AT&T to their toolkit. Students in the #DECAATTProject will get to ‘Experience the Difference’ that this collaboration makes.

Thank you to the AT&T mentors for the time and support they have given to us as students! A mentor told me during one of our meetings that ‘the day you quit is the day you could have made it.’ This mindset has encouraged me to keep trying no matter what hurdles I might hit along the way. I am excited to take this lesson and so many more along with me as I attend college and pursue my future career.”

DECA Member, Newman Smith High School, TX

The best part of being in the #DECAATTProject was gaining the connections and support from our AT&T mentors. I have learned so much about confidence and how to carry myself in a professional environment. These lessons helped me throughout my DECA competitions and will follow me long after I graduate. Thank you for this opportunity!”

DECA Member, Taylorsville High School, UT

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