William Nez, Advisor: Tonya Hollingsworth, Joselin Lopez & Shreeya Maduri
Three students from Glendale Community College represented Arizona at the Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC), held April 18–22 in Louisville, Kentucky. The prestigious event brought together more than 1,300 students from across the United States and Guam to compete in high-level business competitions.
William Nez competed in Retail Management, while Shreeya Maduri and Joselin Lopez competed as a team in their Event Planning competition. All three GCC students qualified for nationals after placing at the top of the state level in Arizona.
The students demonstrated exceptional dedication and preparation throughout the conference. William Nez earned several medallions for top performance in his role-play event and achieved one of the highest overall scores in his category, advancing to the final round and ultimately placing among the top 12 competitors in the nation.
Shreeya Maduri and Joselyn Lopez also competed with determination and teamwork, representing their program with professionalism and strong competitive spirit on the national stage.
“We are incredibly proud of these students for their achievements and for representing our institution and the state of Arizona at such a high level,” said program Advisor Tonya Hollingsworth.
Their success highlights the strength of the GCC Collegiate DECA program and its commitment to preparing students for careers in business and leadership.
DECA is an international organization that prepares college students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management through professional development, networking, and business competitions. It bridges classroom learning with real-world application, offering opportunities to network with industry professionals, gain leadership skills, and compete for scholarships.