Albany Academy Launches DECA Chapter, Advances Students in Inaugural Competition

By: Paightyn Snyder ‘27

This year Albany Academy launched their own DECA (Distributive Education Club of America) chapter that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, leadership, hospitality, finance, and entrepreneurship. Since its launch in mid-October the chapter and its members have engaged in meetings and activities such as the successful food drive and contacting alumni as prospective guest speakers. 

Recently the chapter participated in the January Region 4 DECA competition. In this competition students are given real life business scenarios and are tasked with resolving complex entrepreneurial issues. 

Students who attended: 

Principals of business Management and Administration 

• Max Adelson '28
• Sukiana khan '28
• Kara Corso '27

Principals of Entrepreneurship

• Rishik Agarwal '28 - 1st place
• Ronit Agrawal '28 - 2nd place
• Daniel Gazda '26 - 3rd place

Principles of Finance 

• Rainier Halverson '29
• Ranveer Sidhu '29
• Drew Lerner '29

Principals of Marketing 

• Aarnadhya Shukla '28 - 1st place
• Thor Sanghi '26
• Eliana Goldman '27- 3rd place

Business Law and Ethics (Team Decision Event)

• Gabriella Balboa '27 & Paightyn Snyder '27 - 3rd place 

Principals of Hospitality and Tourism 

• Isabella Basile '27
• Avery Arnold '27 - 1st place
• Misha Pickering '27
• Nik Ritopecki '28
• Siddarth Velesetty '27

Despite this being Academy's first year competing, the chapter performed exceptionally well. Rishik Agarwal, Aarnadhya Shukla, Avery Arnold, Paightyn Snyder, and Gabriella Balboa all qualified to attend New York DECA State Career Conference that will be held in Rochester, NY in March.